Your favorite Book? (zen buddism, kungfu related)

[Reggie1]

Originally posted by Meat Shake
Oh man... Anything by Thich Nhat Hanh is wonderful.

What Meat Shake said. Great stuff. I've never read anybody who explained Zen concepts better.

And this is a little off the beaten path, but I've always been a big fan of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence.

But that's just me.

[SPJ]

Actually, there is no book or doctrine in Zen.

It all starts with a still mind and a quiet heart.

Then experience life and "know" the meaning behind it.

In other words, your life experience is the Zen book for you.

We may find Zen or the meaning of everything in life in everything we encounter, get to know or "master'.

From cleaning chores to motorcycle.

From monkhood to samurai.

From poetry to music.

What is Zen? do not point the finger, you may lose the finger.

Which means see the direction the finger is pointing and not the finger itself.

The finger is the chores, the music, the experience etc.

Where are they pointing? The truth.

That is the Zen or Chan.

Buddha way or dharma, noble truths and paths.

It is only one of the many dharma, ways, dao or paths.

The destination is the truth or to see everything in the light or enlightenment.

And yes you may use Bible or any other religion to reach the truth, too.

[SPJ]

Kung Fu is beyond punch, kick, grappling and throw.

How did the ancient develop Kung Fu?

There are 2 paths. Zen fu or Zen in Kung Fu said there are more than 2 paths.

1. Xiang Xing (assume the form)

We study and learn from the animals and see how they fight. Then we take their forms. How the bear, leopard, snake, tiger, crane etc fight. One of the oldest Kung Fu is the 5 animal set (Wu Qin Xi) preserved in Shaolin.

2. Qu Yi (represent the meaning)

The fighting methods, techniques or the meaning behind the moves of the animal are studied and performed. So the moves may not "look" like the forms or shapes. But it has the meaning behind the shapes.

Mei Hua Tang Lang has moves may not look like praying Mantis, however, it has the meanings of the Tang Lang using his forelegs to fight.

Tai Ji Quan has the meaning and ideas of Tai Ji.

Ba Gua has the meaning of walking in a Ba Gua circle. Jiao Cai Ba Gua.

Xing Yi (Xiang Xing Qu Yi for short) has the meanings of Pi Beng Zuan Pao Heng (Wu Xing) representing metal, wood, water, fire and earth (5 elements, Jin Mu Shui Fo Tu); 12 animals and 8 characters, etc.

These are Chinese Zen of Kung Fu.

What is your Zen in life?

What is your Zen in fighting methods?

And yes, it all comes from you, your experience and your knowing yourself and the universe around you.

[SPJ]

So it is not what you read in the books.

It is what you experience for yourself and what you come to know.

The books are the fingers pointing the directions.

When I was young and studied Shaolin Chan and Kung Fu.

At first, I was told to recite the boxing books or Quan Jing.

After a while, I know them by heart. I use the knowledge and apply them in the practicing of Kung Fu. I was always ready to correct my brother whatever he did. He called me Quan Jing Nazi. He would do a move in Tai Ji. I would correct him all the time and said he is wrong at this and that. There is no Tai Ji in his moves.

One day, the teacher asked me that what is the use of the book. I said I remember the contents well. I did not need the book anymore.

The teacher used the book to pretend to hit me in the head.

And said Zen about this. After a while, I knew the book is to help me understand or "open my mind or head". I have to experience. With all the knowledge of the books, if I do not experience and know them myself. Everything is still in the book. I merely move the books to my head.

In short, practice is knowing. Read the book to help you understand what we are doing.

Once we know what we are doing. Then it is our turn to record in notes and then the books ourself.

[David Jamieson]

Actually, there is no book or doctrine in Zen.

While in practice this is true, it is also not 100% accurate to say there are no books connected to the concept and seed of Zen.

At the foundation of Zen, the Lankavatara Sutra is where the transmission begins. It was this that the second patriarch of Ch'an had transmitted to him to instill the essence.

Here is the sutra

[SPJ]

Oh, to make a long story short.

If there is no Zen, there is no Kung Fu.

If there is no Kung Fu, there is no Zen in Kung Fu.

What is your Zen?

What is your Kung Fu?

Zen is (in) Kung Fu. Kung Fu is Zen.

Single pointed mind.

Ultimately, no mind or still mind.

That is where everything starts and ends.

Yes, your mind. The body and the movements are reflections of your mind.

And yes, there is Qi to link the 2.

[David Jamieson]

The beginning of understanding does not come with koans.

It becomes with foundational and tangible knowledge and with time and further understanding moves away from from hard textual information and postulation.

In Kungfu, you begin by mimicing what you are shown.
You internalize what you have been taught by doing.
Then you become it and it becomes you.

You cannot have a result without a beginning.

When you see the snow blocking your way to the road, you have to do the work of clearing it before you can get on the path.

[mossman]

I've been taking kungfu about a year at a very traditional, authentic school (I won't mention the style) but it is my zen. I've just got an empty bookshelf in the house and wanted to fill it with something

[TaiChiBob]

Greetings..

Chronicles of Tao; Scholar Warrior; 365 Tao.. all by Deng Ming Dao

Tao, A watercourse Way.. by Alan Watts and most other Watts books..

Yang Jwing Ming's books are redundant but full of good stuff..

Tao Te Ching.. Jane English version and Red Pine version..

Conversations With God.. Neale Donald Walsh.. forget the religious baggage, these books are as Taoist as you can get..

Don't forget to practice what you read..

Be well..

[SPJ]

There are many good books but mostly in Chinese.

I would have post something deeper if it is in Chinese forum.

However, since this is English forum.

I feel limited in posting all the time.

But words do not need to be deeper.

The meaning is transparent. That is most important.

Sun Tzu 13 chapters include tactics and strategy.

De Dao Jing is about how to lead people or an Army; even run a company, nation etc.

Book of Change or Zhou Yi is to understand the rules of change.

The expanded Chinese chess gameboard has 18 line X18 line= 324 possibilities.

These are required read for me when I was growing up.

[SPJ]

Most of the Chan or Zen books in Chinese are very deep.

Or take a while to digest.

There is no fast read.

KL linked to some good info sites.

[SPJ]

Interpretations of Chan books usually require some knowledge of Chinese 5000 years of history and literature.

The De Dao Jing and Zhou Yi are required studies for Chan Buddhist monks.

Xi Lai Buddhist University or any other major Buddhist colleges require these courses as well.