We practice Chan and study Buddhism to
come home to our original Self. The practice of Chan helps us
to quiet down, which then enables us to let go of our delusions
and attachments. It is only when we`ve let go of our delusions
and attachments that our true Self can appear. Without inner
stillness there is simply no way for us to see our original
Self.
Chan is a very good method to read our Self. We normally
read books, journals and newspapers, but spend very little
time reading our Self. The best method to read our Self is
by practicing silent meditation. What is the meaning of silent
meditation? It means letting go of our thoughts. It means
letting go of so many things we simply cannot let go of. It
means setting our luminous, spiritual Self completely free.
It means taking away all of its burdens, so that it can freely
manifest itself. It means allowing ourselves to fully own
ourselves.
What am I? Am I my body? My body is composed of the 4 elements:
earth, water, fire and air. But these elements are not me.
What then is my true Self? Our true Self is our spiritual
nature, our enlightened nature, our Buddha nature. Our life
is our eternally indestructible Spirit. There exists no time
nor thing in it, so it is unborn and never dies.
Through the practice of Chan we are finally able to let go
of all of our thoughts and to slowly, slowly get in touch
with the reality of our spiritual Self. We learn to see its
face and to reflect its luminosity all around us.
Dharma Master Hsin Tao
(Translated by Maria Reis Habito)
用禪修閱讀自己
學禪、學佛就是要回到原始的自己，透過禪修來寧靜，然後才能沈澱一切的妄念執著，從沈澱妄念執著裡，我們原始的自己才會露出頭腳，沒有寧靜就沒有辦法看到我們原始的自己。
禪修，是一個閱讀自己最好的方法，平常我們閱讀書籍、新聞，但從來很少有時間閱讀自己，閱讀自己最好的方法就是靜坐，什麼是靜坐？就是放下想法、放下許多放不下的東西，讓這個靈靈光光的自己，自由自在，讓它沒有任何的負擔，讓我們的靈性呈現出來，讓我們能夠擁有自己。
自己是什麼？身體是我嗎？我們的身體是由地、水、火、風等元素所組成，這個假象不是我們，那麼，真的我們在那裡呢？真實的我就是我們的靈性、覺性、佛性。我們的生命是永恆不壞滅的靈性，也因為靈性沒有時間和現象，所以沒有生死。
因為禪修，我們才能放下所有的想法，慢慢的也就能夠摸索到靈性的存在，來覺知我們靈性的面貌，來迴光返照我們的覺性。
─── 心道法師
