The Method of No-Method: The Chan Practice of Silent Illumination

I have not finished this remarkable book yet, and the reason for that is that I am reading slowly, taking notes on each section, and putting these lectures into practice in meditation. As historically important as Ch'an master Sheng Yen's retreat is for clarifying the Silent Illumination teachings, it is even more remarkable that he has made the lectures concrete enough to be used as a practical meditation manual. Sheng Yen is a very clear teacher with precise instructions, and a voice that transmits through the printed page, and fellow Ch'an teacher Guo Gu's able translation is also clear and easy to read. My first experiments with Sheng Yen's instructions have been powerful and helped clarify my practice. For students of Ch'an and zen who want to experience the full breadth of Ch'an and zen meditation practices, this book presents a special opportunity. Please do not skip over Guo Gu's excellent introduction, which frames the subject of Silent Illumination very well, and explains in detail Sheng Yen's teaching scheme for the whole retreat. Sheng Yen recently passed away, which makes this archive of his "live teaching" all the more important. A very special book.

Superb book on how to meditate. Relax your body parts one by one, then keep your whole body in awareness, and if you're tense again, repeat. That is it. I wish that this was THE book that I first read on Zen meditation. I find that the method of the book is implicitly though but following the Satipatthana Sutta which gives it a foundation. A lot of the other Zen texts give you way more narrow or ad hoc seeming instructions that make sitting more difficult and leave you without a map (focus on the breath, the hara, the touch of your thumbs, your posture), or give you stories and allegories to fill your mind with and make you miss that the only thing you should do is be aware. The only important thing is to be aware. Not only on the cushion but also when eating, showering, driving, or at work. I like that the book emphasizes this and spells out in concrete terms how to bring awareness to our everyday activities. This book was on my list for a long time. I am happy I finally bought it.

As far as I am concerned in my truly honest judgement,sheng yen's book the method of no method is truly one of the great contributions to mankinds well being in the twenty first century. Sheng yen is the greatest chan/zen teacher to reach the west if only for his revival of silent illumination enlightenemnt/realization practice of the caodong lineage/school of chan/zen Buddhism that went to Japan under the name of soto zen. Here we a truly simple direct practice that all can practice in all walks of live. It is deeply liberative and conducive to truly deep well being. It is a testament to the power of full attentive here and now direct awareness less filtered by wandering irrelevant thought in every action to truly liberate a person,make him more responsibly productive to the needs of every situation as they arise, break self centered fears and graspings to see things as they truly are not how you would like them to be and to provide a rational basis for profound well being. Silent illumination practice in short is one of mankinds greatest inventive practice in promoting human flourishing. In the interests of transparent advocacy I am a member of sheng yen's chan/zen Buddhist lineage but then I searched long and hard in find a practice of spiritual awakening. The method of no method is beautifully written in its clear direct simplicity but you might use thich nhat hanh the heart of buddha's teaching as a fine introductory guide. Eric warwick

Few books go into as much detail on the method of Mo Chao as this book by master Sheng Yen. In Zen the same method is known by the Japanese name, "Shikantaza". Here Chan master Sheng Yen elucidates the method, its importance and its uses within the context of his Chan tradition. Whether your strictly Zen or familiar with Chan Buddhism, if you like the silent illumination style of practice, if you like methods like Mahamudra from Dzogchen for example, then you will love this book and find very practical examples of how practice and concentration works. Master Sheng Yen is the only Chan master I have ever heard of that actually went on a speaking tour with the Dalai Lama. He is a highly respected teacher because of his gnosis and ability to elucidate the fine aspects of sitting practice. One final suggestion, this practice is really for people that have already generated a degree of concentration or samatha. Its really a method specific book. It is all about the specific method of entering into the stillness and silence of the mind through using the attention as the object of meditation itself. While the method is easily explained by Master Sheng Yen it requires some previous experience in meditation in my opinion. If you consider yourself a serious practitioner then this is great book for you.

This is a very good read and helps explain some basics of sitting meditation that I found valuable. I recommend it!

If you want to be free, from suffering, from the oppression of your own mind, from causes and conditions, this book is your ticket. But you cannot just read it. You must practice with your whole being. Sheng Yen provides a method that is delightfully simple.

Mais um ótimo livro de Sheng Yen. Aborda a prática Silent Illumination, conforme ensinada pelo mestre chinês Hongzhi. Uma ótima fonte de referência de uma prática semelhante ao shikantaza do mestre Dogen (tradição Soto). Recomendado.

This book is by far the most concise in regards to Zen meditation. It still blows my mind how many Zen centers provide virtually no instruction other than Just Sit! or Think non-Thinking. I have seen so many prospective students leave Zen all together due to insufficient teaching or lack of a method. Well this book solves this ongoing issue. This is the book I wish I had read when I first got into Zen before wasting years of Just Sitting before coming to Ch'an practice where I actually started o flourish in my practice and truly enjoy it. If you are tired of abstract Dogenism and the countless interpretations on his Shikantanza than please do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!

Wonderful teachings and clear instructions on the practice of Silent Illumination, the Chinese version of Japanese Zen meditation . I would rate this book on a par with Zen Mind, Beginners' Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and actually more practical .

A very interesting and insightful book, written by one of the greatest contemporary Chan (Zen) Master. It is really useful to the practitioner to explore the "silent illumination" method.

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