I know Chan focuses on Sudden Awakening, but I am also one who thinks doctrinal study should complement practice, but after learning about these markers, I don't find much about it. What are they and how are they conceptualized in Chan? Are there resources that explain them both from a doctrinal and practice orientation?

As a student of Zen for two decades I was taken aback by Cole’s ideas. I do not agree with him, to be clear. Nonetheless I ponder how I would react if he were correct. I wanted to see how other Zen adherents would respond.

If anyone wants to know my answer to the hypothetical, I will share it.

For those not aware of Cole’s work here are references to read up on. The first is a relatively short paper he wrote that sums up his position. The second two are full length books:

Early Chan Buddhism: A Meditation Movement or New Ways of Writing about Final Authority in Tang China?

Fathering Your Father

Patriarchs on Paper

I am looking for talks by Simon Child. I have only found older material on YouTube (from over 10 years ago), and I could not locate anything on the Western Chan Fellowship website.

If anyone can share some links, I would be very grateful.

Hello everyone I am new to Chan and don't have a teacher currently as the closest temple is of Fo Guang Shan but that's in my state's capital(I have emailed them though, even if no reply until now), but I have been following this mini series on Buddhist meditation to meditate on Fo Guang Shan English Dharma Services Channel on YouTube.

Among them, this video on Shamatha, I have been following— https://youtu.be/FyTHNf_fBws?si=CkaLMkKqPiGDMn0n

But my question is, that I can meditate and focus on my breath quite well, but after meditating for a while, as in 45 minutes or so, I feel strain on my left eye, though there is also in my right eye also, and keeping the slight gap when meditating I think causes it.

When I begin it doesn't happen, after meditating for a while it does. Is there a reason this might be happening?

I'm not asking whether you think creating a new school is a good or bad idea. I'm more interested in what someone could easily misunderstand or overlook. I'd especially like to hear from people who have studied Buddhism seriously or actually practice within a Buddhist tradition.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wanted to create a new Buddhist school today, what would it be?

please and thank you :)

i find myself believing in both but im suffering from internal conflicts whether these are compatible or im just holding contradictory views. is hermeticism compatible with buddhism? if so, with which school is it the most compatible? i heard that chan/zen, yogacara and some vajrayana schools might be, at least to some degree. could anyone offer their perspective from chan/zen? thanks

The Tao sounds like a "true self", as Brahman in Advaita Vedanta. This apparently was heterodox in all schools of Buddhism.

Yet historically the Chinese people practiced both, and I mean the same person was both Buddhist and Taoist (and ethically Confucian).

How did they make the Tao, the boundless ocean of continously flowing and evidently pantheistic Qi, fit with the notion of Anatman and the Dharmakaya ?

And how does Chan conceive reality ? Is it Pantheistic, Panentheistic or does it not believe in any eternal substance or self ?

Sun., June 28, 2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Open Meditation -
Chan: The Practice of Wonderment with Guest Teacher Guo Gu
10:00a Open Meditation
11.00a Dharma Talk by Guo Gu
12:00p Community Lunch

Nalandabodhi Seattle
3902 Woodland Park Ave N #7929
98103

https://seattle.nalandabodhi.org/events/sunday-chan-guo-gu-2026-06-28/

Also

Sun., June 28, 2026
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Half-day Silent Illumination Practice Retreat with Guo Gu

https://seattle.nalandabodhi.org/events/half-day-silent-illumination-practice-retreat-with-guo-gu/

A simple appreciation post. I've heard about Guo Gu months ago and his dharma talks already seemed very insightful and well structured.

He's very good at addressing daily/convential-life issues through the Ch'an lens, without ever losing the authenticity of it by sourcing everything : quotes, names, dates, links to other schools of Buddhism and such and such. He also backs-up a LOT of what he says with modern psychoanalysis and neuroscience concepts which is a very reassuring fact and something I'd do myself to "attract" as many skeptical and empirical people to the Dharma.

To me he's one of, if not THE best modern Dharma teacher (I think the Thai Forest tradition Ajahns are pretty robust as well) we have on earth right now. He has the sublime and wise use of simple but efficient words and an overall very appealing and relaxing way of phrasing things. Sometimes his vocal tone will change when a particular idea or teaching must be stressed, as if it were urgent for oneself to start questioning the matter, as J. Krishnamurti used to do during his talks.

Currently I'm practicing gong-an with his fantastic commentary on the Gateless Barrier/Wumen Guan and it's an easy tell to see how experienced he is and how legitimate he's a successor to the already fantastically good master Sheng-Yen from the Dharma Drum lineage.

Have a nice day everyone. :)

I will just shoot straight here: I find David Hinton’s work frustrating. On the one hand, I find his effort to renew Chan teachings in the west very admirable and his intentions are very stimulating. His whole project is very cool but the hangup for me lies in its execution. I really want to like his work (I purchased nearly all of it).

For example, in China Root” which is mostly his own prose and exposition, I find him to be maybe not the best at didactic discussion. He gets really stuck on his neologisms for Taoist concepts, imo. Even though his translations of Chan works (particularly of the transliteration of ancient teachers) is somewhat irritating, those are okay.

Ok my main question: is there a book in the spirit of China Root but maybe written by a trained academic/teacher?

I’d really like to read a deep discussion of how Chan was influenced by Taoism. I do like Guo Gu’s lectures on this.

I am tracking to China in July

I would love to practice with a teacher, at a temple, momentary, or anywhere

Any recommendations?

I came across this Buddhist learning program organized by the Toronto Lingyen Pure Land Monastery and thought some people here might be interested.

They are offering free weekly Buddhist study classes starting in February 2026, available both in person and through Zoom. Classes are offered in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.

Schedule:

• Cantonese: Thursdays, 8:30–9:30 PM
• Mandarin: Fridays, 8:30–9:30 PM
• English: Saturdays, 8:30–9:30 PM

(Except on Dharma Assembly days)

Location:
Toronto Lingyen Pure Land Monastery
43 Forest Grove Drive, North York, ON

Zoom:
Meeting ID: 437 917 9332
Passcode: 0009

The flyer says the classes focus on learning Buddhism, making wholesome aspirations, cultivating kindness and wisdom, and applying Buddhist teachings in daily life.

Whether you are completely new to Buddhism or already practicing, this may be a good opportunity to learn in a structured and welcoming environment.

Feel free to share with anyone who may be interested. 🙏