Practice Period
Just Show Up Zen Winter/Spring 2025 Practice Period—Silent Illumination: Exploring the Method of No Method at the Root of Soto Zen
We will begin our next Practice Period (Silent Illumination: Exploring the Method of No Method at the Root of Soto Zen) on Friday, February 7. This is a time to deepen our commitment to practice and to explore a particular theme. The practice period will run through Friday, May 30. We hope to have opportunities for online (and possibly hybrid in-person/online) retreat practice (half day or whole day) during this time; these will be announced later.
Silent Illumination is the term used to describe the form of objectless meditation that was developed and practiced in the Caodong school of Chan (Zen) in China. It is the direct precursor to what the Soto Zen tradition calls shikantaza or “just sitting.” While there are some differences between this practice and shikantaza as they developed separately over the centuries in China and Japan, they are closely related. The most prominent teacher of the Silent Illumination style in China was Hongzhi Zhengue (1091-1157), who was the abbot at the same monastery where Dogen (1200-1253) later had his great enlightenment experience and received dharma transmission.
As our way of entry into this practice, we will use Rebecca Li’s excellent new book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method as a key resource. Li is a contemporary American teacher of Chan in the modern Chinese lineage of master Sheng Yen. This Chan tradition is closely related to but not identical to our branch of Soto Zen—you might say that it is “a family relation”, sort of like a cousin. Li’s book is practical and clear. In addition, she directly relates this meditation practice to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, so it is a great introduction to (or review of) these core Buddhist principles. While not required to participate in the Practice Period, we strongly encourage you to get a copy of this book and to read it as we go along, to deepen your understanding and practice and to enrich our dialogue. We will aim to create ample opportunities for discussion.
Li says this about Silent Illumination: “Silent Illumination is often called the method of no-method because it does not ask us to focus the mind on any particular object such as the breath. There is nothing to do, but you can’t do nothing, so you have to start with something. It is a way of clear and total open awareness, moment-to-moment experience that simultaneously reveals our intrinsic enlightenment. Silent Illumination is a relaxing into the present that allows us to shed our habits of self-centered attachment—and consequently our suffering—without force, like leaves falling from a tree in autumn.” For more on Li’s perspective on the practice, you can find an article from Lion’s Roar here.
Just Show Up Zen Spring and Summer 2024 Practice Period — Mettā
Our spring and summer 2024 practice period was devoted to the study and practice of mettā (loving-kindness, or good-will). Resources for the practice period are set out below.
Resources (All Hyperlinked):
Discourse on Loving Kindness, from the Sutta Nipata, translated by Andrew Olendzki
Andrew OIendzki’s Study Guide to the Discourse on Loving Kindness (please note that each verse has its own page—you can navigate to each of the pages for each of the verses easily from this link)
Metta in other Suttas, Andrew Olendzki
21 translations of the Mettā Sutta
The Sublime Attitudes: A Study Guide to the Brahmaviharas, Thanissaro Bhikkhu (free e-book)
“When Goodwill is Better than Love: The Meaning of Metta”, Thanissaro Bhikkhu (article from Lion’s Roar)
Metta: The Philosophy and Practice of Universal Love, Acharaya Buddharakkhita (from Access to Insight)
Guided Meditation on Radiating Mettā Practice, by Ayya Anandabodhi, from Dharma Seed (37 minutes)
Guided Mettā for Oneself, Benefactor, Dear Friend, Neutral Person and Difficult Person, by Kamala Masters (45 minutes