An online community sharing the study and practice of Chan Buddhism

With translations in many languages

This is an exquisite truth:

Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start.

Inquiring about a difference

Is like asking to borrow string when you've got a good strong rope.

Every Dharma is known in the heart.

After a rain, the mountain colors intensify.

Once you become familiar with the design of fate's illusions

Your ink-well will contain all of life and death.
 

 

 

Polish translation (Tumaczenie)
by Konrad Uliczkowski

 

Une exquise verite
Ceci est une exquise verite:
Les saints et les gens du commun sont pareils, depuis le commencement.

S'enquerir de la difference
c'est vouloir emprunter de la ficelle
et posseder une solide corde

Le dharma se comprend dans le coeur.
Apres la pluie, les couleurs de la montagne sont plus vives.

Une fois que vous aurez compris le patron des illusions du destin

Votre encrier contiendra toute la vie et la mort.

 

Una Verdad Exquisita

Traducción por Mario deLara
Esta es una verdad exquisita: Los santos y las personas comunes son iguales desde el principio.

Buscar una diferencia
Es como pedir prestado un cordel cuando tienes una buena cuerda.
Todo Dharma se conoce en el corazón.
Después de la lluvia, los colores de la montaña se hacen más intensos.

Una vez que te familiarizas con las intenciones de las ilusiones del destino
Tu tintero contendrá toda la vida y toda la muerte

 

 

Kostbare Wahrheit Uebersetzt von Wu-pieh-an

 

Uma Preciosa Verdade Traduzido por Yao Sheng
Esta é uma preciosa verdade:
Santos e pessoas comuns são os mesmos desde o início.

Perguntar a diferença
É como pedir emprestado um barbante
quando tens uma boa e forte corda.

Todo Dharma é conhecido no coração.
Depois da chuva, as cores da montanha ficam mais intensas.

Uma vez que fiques familiar com os padrões das ilusões do destino,
Teu tinteiro conterá toda a vida e a morte.

 

An Exquisite Truth (in Chinese/Pinyin)

by Master Hsu Yun
Translated to Pinyin (from the English
translation) by Fa Xian

 

 

 

Notices

By Fa Lohng Shakya

Fundamental to the philosophy of Boundless Mind Zen is the recognition that teachers themselves are also students of Zen and that the nature and quality of their teaching is derived from their own understanding and practice. As continuing students, they are committed to an openness and fluidity of teaching and practice, and may develop and apply diverse approaches to their methods of teaching. ...

By Administrator

There is a common myth that it's necessary to have a teacher/guru to make any kind of progress with Zen. What everyone DOES need is inspiration to do this work, because it's not easy, and there are lots of doubts we have along the way (doubt in the sense of questioning the validity/efficaciousness of our efforts). There are also times we can get pretty scared (from what we uncover in our psyches) ...

By Fa Tian Shakya

Le chant de la vallé is a heritage in Quebec, Canada founded by Fa Tian (Philippe Duchesne). The philosophy is, in his words, that "anybody can awaken here and now to the True Nature with the hearing of only one word. After that, it takes the rest of one's life to deepen and integrate it into daily practice of Dhyana. Even if some support and common practice can be useful, it is an individual ...

By Stuart Lachs

Stuart Lachs was born in 1940 and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Brooklyn College, part of the NYC college system, where he received a B.A. and M.S., majoring in mathematics. He worked at Bell Labs in the mathematical physics department for a year and afterward, in the ship design industry for a few years. He started Zen practice in 1967 in NYC. That Spring he went to San Francisco because ...

Fa Xing Shakya recently gave a talk on Zen Buddhism at Stafford Creek Correction Center in Aberdeen, Washington, USA.  In late May, he was invited to the prison’s annual Asian-Pacific Islander cultural event to give an opening blessing and say a few words about Buddhism to the inmate population.  Fa Xing has been volunteering at Stafford Creek for several years now, ...

By Fa Xing Shakya
As Zen grows in popularity in the United States and other occidental countries, there are growing demands for its representatives to provide for the needs of those Zen enthusiasts incarcerated in prisons.  Only a couple of decades ago it was virtually unheard of for Zen clergy to minister to inmates in prisons, yet today it is a very much growing and needed service.  While the Order of Hsu Yun ...

Grand Master Ben Huan, one of the most respected of China's Chan masters, passed away this past Monday, April 2, 2012, at the age of 105. He was the Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Buddhist Association and had resided at Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong. Grandmaster Ben Huan was one of the ten masters presiding over the first-ever full ordination ceremony to be held at Hong Fa temple in ...

By Fa Xing Shakya


Mountain Way Zendo is a practice center for wayfarers from various faiths and walks of life whose spiritual explorations have led them to the practices and teachings of Zen Buddhism. Located in Grays Harbor County of Washington State, USA, and led by resident teacher Fa Xing, the Zendo is a place for sangha members to come together as their schedules allow, to practice various meditative ...

Fa Lohng Shakya (Koro Kaisan Miles) began his term as president of the Northwest Dharma Association this last June. He has been on the board of the Association since 2006, serving most recently as vice president.

The Northwest Dharma Association (NWDA) is a regional network of Buddhist groups and practice centers in the Western United States and Canada. It includes group members in the states of ...

Updated May, 2022
 
The Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun (ZBOHY, 虛 雲 禪 苑) was founded by the monk, Jy Din Shakya, Abbot of the Hsu Yun temple in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1997.  He affectionately named the Order after his master, Hsu Yun.  His purpose for the Order was to provide a monastically-sanctioned online repository of information about Chan Buddhism.  Chuan Zhi, who ...
By Chuan Zhi

Exploring Chán covers a broad spectrum of topics, from the origins of meditation to modern day practices, from Indian expressions of Buddhism, to Chinese, Korean, Tibetan, Japanese, and Western expressions. It delves into psychology, philosophy, ontology, psychology, and yes, physics (my formal educational background). It also presents practical approaches for practicing Chan. To read a review ...