What Is Chan 禅 Buddhism.    
1. (History)

 

History of Chan 

    

The historical Chinese records required for a complete and accurate account of early Chán history no longer exist. However, most scholars believe Chán Buddhism was brought to China from India along the silk road in the 6th century CE. It was the interaction between Mahāyāna Buddhism and Taoism that lead to the beginning of the Chán schools. The famous: "Legend of Bodhidharma" - describes perhaps the earliest accounts of Buddhism in China.

What Is Chan 禅 Buddhism.  
2. (Legend)

  

    
Who was Bodhidharma? 

     Bodhidharma was a Indian Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century AD. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chán to China, and regarded as the first Chinese patriarch. According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the Shaolin monks that led to the creation of Shaolinquan. Aka- Shaolin Kung-Fu.

  There are a number of stories and legends surrounding Bodhidharma, some of that might be real; and a lot others just made up. In any case, they are all very interesting tales, and profoundly capture the essence of Chan wisdom.

Legend of Bodhidharma

According to the Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall, around the year 527 (?) the eighth year of Putong:

 Bodhidharma called on the Emperor Wu Ti (502-550 A.D.) of Liang dynasty, a fervent patron of Buddhism. The Emperor was then at Jinling (today's Nanjiang) 

Emperor Wu asked Bodhidharma: "After I ascended the throne, I have built countless temples residences for monks and copied innumerable scriptures. How much merit have I accrued?" 

 
Bodhidharma answered: "There is no merit." 

Startled, the Emperor then asked Bodhidharma: “What is the first principle of the holy teachings?” 

Bodhidharma replied: “Vast emptiness, nothing holy.”

Emperor, frustrated, then asked Bodhidharma: "Who is this that stands before me?"

Bodhidharma answered: "I don't know."

The Emperor did not understand what Bodhidharma was saying. He was disappointed and upset. The meeting was obviously unsuccessful. 

 Thereafter, Bodhidharma moved north, and meditated in a cave, facing a wall, for 8 years.

 **The Legend of Bodhidharma may have been created by Chinese Chan Buddhists.**

What Is Chan 禅 Buddhism.    
3. (Scripture)

 

 The origins of Chán may be traced even father back to India, 2500 years ago. This document is a 14th century Mahāyāna Buddhist  Sutra known as the Flower Sermon. 

 The Flower Sermon 

Thus I have heard, that Gautama Buddha gathered his disciples one day for a Dharma talk When they gathered together, the Buddha was completely silent and some speculated why. The Buddha silently held up and twirled a flower and his eyes twinkled; several of his disciples tried to interpret what this meant, though none of them were correct. One of the Buddha's disciples, Mahākāśyapa, silently gazed at the flower and broke into a broad smile. The Buddha then acknowledged Mahākāśyapa's insight by saying the following:

    "I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvelous mind of Nirvāṇa, the true form of the formless, the subtle Dharma gate that does not rest on words or letters but is a special transmission outside of the scriptures. This I entrust to Mahākāśyapa."

**The story of the Flower Sermon may have been created by Chinese Chan Buddhists.**

What Is Chan 禅 Buddhism.  
4. (Wordless) 

 

Bodhidharma introduced to China an alternative to text-based scholastic learning. He was the first to proclaim: "do not establish words and letters." In other words, this awakening experience is inexpressible in words and is inaccessible to the dualism of language and concepts.

(Hmm? If that is the case, forget everything I posted above.)

So then,  

What Is Chan? 

(here is some ideas that still miss the mark.)

[ a “special transmission, outside the scriptures, with

no dependence on words and letters.” It is “a direct pointing
at the human mind; seeing into one’s own nature and the attainment of Buddhahood.” - Venerable Jing Hui  ]

a state of awareness free of self-reference.

"No matter how much external circumstances change, if one can see through the outer manifestations and let go of grasping, having clarity and true understanding, then that is Chan."  

Please do not try to explore the content of Chan motivated by mere curiosity, for Chan is not something new brought to the USA by Orientals; Chan is present everywhere, in space without limit and time without end. - Sheng Yen

Direct personal experience of Chan brings about the actualization of wisdom and compassion, which leads to peace and understanding.  

 There is no need for any teacher to transmit it; what is transmitted is just the method by which one can personally experience Chan. 

Chan is understanding life itself. 

Contact:

Craig Andersen  

https://twitter.com/#!/ChanBuddhism 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Craig-Andersen/204606896229498?sk=wall