Chan Practice of Silent Illumination with Rebecca Li

“Silently and serenely, one forgets all words. Clearly and vividly, it appears before you.” These are the opening lines of the poem Silent Illumination composed by Chan master Hongzhi in the twelfth century China, a poem often used by the late Chan master Sheng Yen in his silent illumination retreats. Silent illumination is a practice where stillness and clarity are cultivated simultaneously through the process of recognizing and releasing layers of ever more subtle habitual reactivities that cause suffering. This practice allows us to live more in accordance with wisdom and compassion, as we suffer less and become more present, kind and connected with everyone in our lives, enhancing our capacity to bring benefits to the world.

Join us in this retreat where practitioners will learn to settle the mind by working with a meditation method in a way that is conducive to a smooth transition into the practice of silent illumination—the method of no-method, and to maintain the practice on and off the meditation cushion. Dharma talks on key Dharma concepts and helpful mindsets will be given to support our practice of silent illumination. Practitioners will also receive individual guidance in private interviews.

Dr. Rebecca Li, a Dharma heir in the lineage of Chan Master Sheng Yen, is the founder and guiding teacher of Chan Dharma Community. She teaches meditation and Dharma classes, gives public lectures, and leads retreats in North America and Europe. Her talks and writings can be found at www.rebeccali.org. She is a sociology professor and lives with her husband in New Jersey. She is the author of Allow Joy into Our Hearts:Chan Practice in Uncertain Times, and her new book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method was recently published by Shambhala Publications.





Rebecca Li, PhD, is a Chan Buddhist teacher in the lineage of Master Sheng Yen, and the founder and guiding teacher of Chan Dharma Community.

 

There will not be an online component for this retreat. Check out our April and May sesshin for online options.

 

https://rebeccali.org