Ebook: The Secrets of Chinese Meditation

Lu K'uan Yu was born in Canton in 1898. His first Master was the Hutuktu of Sikang, an enlightened Great Lama. His second Master was the Venerable Chan Master Hsu Yun who was the Dharma—successor of all five Ch'an sects of China.

Lu K'uan Yu now lives in Hongkong and devotes himself to presenting 'as many Chinese Buddhist texts as possible so that Buddhism can be preserved at least in the West, should it be fated to disappear in the East as it seems to be'.

Lu K'uan Yu is among the foremost interpreters of Chinese meditational practices, and in this book he presents long extracts from ancient and modern classics, in which the emphasis is practical, so that each reader can pick out and use that which most appeals to him.

An important chapter from Surangama Sutra describes twenty-five basic meditational methods, while the Sutra of the Contemplation of Amitayus details the visualizations recommended for rebirth in the Western Paradise.

The Ch'an (or Zen) training for controlling the mind is given in a series of practical instructions by ancient and modern Ch'an masters. Detailed suggestions for practising the vital T'ien Tai systems for calming the mind (chih) and developing insight (kuan) follow in a first translation of Chih I's sixth-century classic 'Samatha — Vipassana for Beginners'.

Two chapters are devoted to Taoist Yoga, about which we still know little. Extracts from 7he Ancient Medical Formulae Explained are translated for the first time, while Yin and the author detail their experiences when following these methods. The Taoist art of controlling the breath and vital principle (prana) and circulating it through the psychic channels (nadi) and centres is described in some detail, while acupuncture, cauterization and the elixir of immortality are also dealt with.