Have you ever thought about the ultimate true reality of life? The Sixth Patriarch Hui-Neng said that our self-nature is intrinsically self-sufficient, non-arising and non-perishing, and able to manifest all things. Why is this not apparent to us? We address to the realization of this true reality when we investigate Chan.
We use the approach called huatou, literally “the head, or source, of words.” With this approach we may experience the mind as it is before words, thoughts or ideas arise. To use the huatou we ask ourselves a critical phrase, a question, over and over. We ask with a sincere desire to know, and this process can stabilize the mind to a point where thoughts cease. At this point a practitioner may go even deeper with a Master’s help – by pushing, shouting, tapping – and experience a state of mind where the answers to the fundamental questions become clearer. The huatou retreat is an inward investigative journey, a quest to know more about ourselves in order to discover our “true self.”
- The Leader: Chan Master Guoru
- The Supervisor: Guohan (Old Teacher Tsao)
- Time Keeper: Chan Teacher Changjen Fashi etc.
- Dates: June 1-7, 2013 (7 days, 6 nights)
- Place: Chan Grove, 198 Fuxing 3rd Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan
