​Communication between Japanese Zen and Chinese Chan - When Western Zen Masters Met DDM Abbot President

On the morning of May 21^st, 2024, Guo Gu (Professor Jimmy Yu), founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center in Florida, led 44 Western meditation practitioners from around the world to visit the Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, Venerable Guo Huei (果暉法師), at DDM World Center for Buddhist Education.

Among the visitors were four teachers of Japanese Zen, including Hogen Jack Bays and Mitra Virtaperko, the second and third- generation disciples of Philip Kapleau, author of The Three Pillars of Zen; Jan Chozen Bays, a disciple of Maezumi Hakuyu (前角博雄) who received his Dharma transmission; and Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, the Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Temple and third-generation disciple of Suzuki Shunyu (鈴木俊隆) of the Soto sect. These Zen masters joined the trip because they  had been deeply inspired by the writings of the founder of DDM, Master Sheng Yen.

While expressing his loving care for the guests in English throughout their visit, the DDM Abbot President was asked to share how he himself applies the method of Silent Illumination in his daily life. In addition to the method of "do not label, do not describe, do not compare" as taught by Master Sheng Yen, the Abbot President shared the practice method of "engaging is letting go." This led to a refreshing conversation covering topics such as "the difference between Silent Illumination and Shikantaza (just sitting)," "how to understand the concept of Practice and Realization as One," as well as concepts such as "phenomena are not separate from reality" as well as "the simultaneity of cause and effect."

According to Guo Gu, the tour began on May 15^th, which included a three-day intensive retreat, dialogues on Chinese Chan and Western Zen, a trip to Nung Chan Monastery, and a visit to the DDM Abbot President. He saw this trip as an opportunity for Westerner practitioners to gain a deeper understanding about Master Sheng Yen's aspiration behind establishing DDM. In addition, he also hoped that through in-depth dialogues between different traditions, the participants would better apprehend the spirit of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chinese Chan, as well as how the DDM Sangha members continue the legacy of the Master in propagating Chan practice. 

At the end of their visit, Zen Teacher Hogen Jack Bays shared that a few months ago, he went to Japan for a learning experience, only to find that the temples there focus more on formality than on practice. Therefore, he was moved and delighted when seeing that the monastics and laypeople of DDM are cultivating their spirituality with sincerity and applying Chan practice in their lives in a lively and flexible way.

As Polona Abram, a Zen practitioner from Europe, indicated there exist diverse schools and teachings in Europe, even within a single tradition. She had spent nearly 30 years searching for a teacher until she came into contact with the Chinese Chan Buddhism, in which she found a clear direction to follow. Through dialogues between different traditions, she gained more confidence in the simplicity of the Chinese tradition of Chan.



Photos / Fan Lee (李東陽)
Original Chinese text / Venerable Yan Wen (演穩法師)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL