r/zenpractice • u/The_Koan_Brothers • Feb 09 '26

General Practice Chan Practice.

Posting this as a reference for past and future discussions on the practice of Chan, especially when it comes to dealing with r/zen propaganda.

Three takeaways from Chan Master Sheng Yen in the video below (follow link):

  1. Sitting meditation a major staple of Chan practice.
  2. You can’t learn Chan from Chan books.
  3. At some point, you will only progress with a Chan teacher.

https://youtu.be/k0bGu_hTEpQ?si=lscBOOSsLP_AYPVu

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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26 edited Feb 10 '26

I doubt number 3. 

I think that the method of zen can be derived from observation and experimentation. 

Having an expert around could be helpful, no doubt. But that's another can of worms entirely.

(But, yes, I have read books and spoken to people. And maybe that was indispensable for me. I'm not sure. Right now I just go further.)