The Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast for Sunday 11 November 2001

Interview with Vinitha Jayasinghe

Glossary

Ch’an. An ancient Buddhist practice which trains the mind. One method of Ch’an uses ink, ink stone, inkbrush, and paper to teach calligraphy.

Extant. Be prominent or visible, exist.

Kith and kin. Country and kinsfolk, friends and relatives.

pH. Acidity or alkalinity of a solution, soil, etc., expressed numerically as the logarithm to the base 10 of the reciprocal of the activity of hydrogen ions (in moles per litre).

The topic of today’s broadcast is: Misunderstanding the Four Seasons

Why do a few corrupt city dwellers wish for perpetual sunshine without rain or clear skies without cloud?

If their wishes were granted, crops would fail and masses of persons would starve to death.

In not so distant times, we recognised the seasons by the fruit on the trees.

As fruit trading is modern business and operates day and night, it may lead to disorientation because day and night and the seasons blur or vanish from the minds of the business operators. Science has developed products, such as fruits, "out of season". Fruits can be purchased in supermarkets throughout the year rather than only during their fruiting season. In addition, many types of tinned fruit are available in Australia over the entire year. As a result some persons can become confused and do not know the season they are living in. When this happens, something like “jet lag” occurs with disorientation.

In Victoria, Australia where our temple is located, the four seasons are Spring commencing 1 September, Summer commencing 1 December, Autumn commencing 1 March and Winter commencing 1 June, each lasting for a period of three months.

The weather patterns near Melbourne are unstable.

Some Ch’an practice can bring the mind out of this disorientation that does not know the correct time and place or season.

We do not place great emphasis on the question on the lineage and of what type of Ch’an we show.

He lived in the 6th Century. No Korean Buddhist monk is more famous than the most Venerable Wonhyo. One scholar says he established the foundation for a unifying theory of Buddhism. Another says he gave shape to the form and content of Korean Buddhism and remains the dominant personality of the entire Korean Buddhist tradition. One thing everyone accepts is that he is one of the greatest scholars and one of the most influential thinkers in Korean history.

The most Venerable Wonhyo is said to have been the author of some 240 works on Buddhism. Unfortunately, most of the Venerables works have been lost, but 20 works in 25 Volumes are still extant. Also, many of his works are contained in many Japanese sectarian catalogues.

About the most Venerable Wonhyo’s fundamental thought, it is said that most of his works were based on his Theory of Harmonization. He made extensive commentaries on the doctrines and scriptures of all the different schools of Buddhism that were competing for religious supremacy at the time. His writings were not limited only to certain scriptures of specific denominations, but focused on the main scriptures of all the Buddhist schools, showing that the real essence of these Sutras were the same in both Mahayana and Theravada Schools.

To assist persons who wish to know the season correctly in two ways, our Ch’an Academy teaches ‘The Way of The Brush’ and “The way of the Garden”. This means we paint flowers in the right season in the right setting. As part of this teaching our Members take care of cultivating and harvesting flowers from gardens.

The garden is the repository of the four seasons, the natural factors of change. Our Ch'an Garden is a rather grand Teaching aide and because of this function, the calligraphy on the four gates refer to it as a “Heavenly Buddha Dhamma Garden”.

Within the boundaries of our heavenly garden, human beings learn the first fundamental of life, that all things change. Change means unsatisfactoriness (in Pali - dukkha). Most beings wish to slow down this natural deterioration caused by change. The modern world of physics shows disorder increases with time because we measure time in the direction in which disorder increases.

Our heavenly garden is designed to calm and delight many beings. By being able to see the four seasons from within our Centre, we maintain a healthy working environment. Seeing the garden, and the changes, that the seasons bring, ensures our Members do not suffer from fatigue and lifelessness, which can occur when 'boxed' in a traditional workspace. Most new plants are given to us as gifts.

Where possible, the good things handed down to us by our forebears, such as, for example, our garden structure ought to be preserved. Some of our trees are estimated to be 200 years old.

This garden attracts much wildlife including many possums, birds and insects. One earlier student of our Centre reported an annual bird count of over 120 different species of local birds that visited our garden over the four seasons. She was an English bird watcher.

The water ponds we built here have saved the lives of many birds during drought and bushfires. Our fruit trees and local berry bushes also provide food for the birds.

In addition, we offer nutritious bird seed to itinerant birds every day. We have a built a vast aviary without bars. We pay no parrot tax, nor owl levy. Our tactics are affordable because bird seed is donated.

As the argon spectral band sets in the West, the birds settle down for their evening snooze and so do we because we, like them, have not gone beyond circadian rhythms.

The “Way of the Garden” is the “Way of Action”. Some persons lack the skills needed in knowing what to add to the soil and how.

Some actions when half done can kill plants.

For example, this week, one member put cold fire ash over our newly planted rose beds and did not water it in. Ash on rose leaves could kill the plant. We discovered this last Thursday afternoon and watered the ash well into the surrounding soil on Thursday and again on Friday. We hope they recover.

The Way of the Garden is difficult to understand and may be compared to bringing one hundred water brooks under one bridge.

The ecosystem at our Centre is made deliberately complex.

The pH of the soil is controlled for allowing optimum growth of many different plants.

Native ferns like clay have a soil of pH 1.

Stupid minds cannot recreate beautiful gardens or concentrate on practise of the Ch’an Way of the Garden.

At present, we need more complex gardening skills.

A few of our students of the Middle Way have developed the patience to learn skills of our Ch’an Way of The Garden over the four seasons.

In this process over the last 10 years, we estimate well intentioned Members have destroyed over 1000 plants. We would like to reduce this level of assistance. Thousands of insights into the caring of our garden are needed to do this.

The Way of the Garden also helps us understand such matters as the two other fundamental properties of human existence, namely, unsatisfactoriness (Pali - dukkha) and the lack of a permanent self (Pali - anatta). The short time available today does not permit us to elaborate on the other methods whereby these two fundamental aspects of human existence can be known, each for himself or herself.

Suffice to say, insights from the Way the Garden can extend to wisdom concerning all three fundamental properties of material existence. Direct knowing of these three properties leads to path entry (Pali - nibbana).

Even partially understanding the ecosystem and four seasons opens up a whole new world of perception: a world where we see a droplet of water as it is; a droplet of water in Summer, a droplet of mist in Autumn, a droplet of frost in Winter and a droplet of dew in Spring. We can see phase changes of water.

Plants and our bodies run off water solutions of salt and minerals. Many persons need to drink more water to be healthy. We estimate 40% of Australians start to dehydrate every day.

As we learn to appreciate the use of the four treasures of a Ch’an practitioner’s studio (Brush, Ink, Inkstone, Paper), we begin to gain partial understanding of the nature of the four seasons.

Viewed from another universe of discourse, the Western view of Zen is seen as a bizarre idea, something to be played with, to be conceptualised, jargonised and complementary to good taste in interior decorating.

There is nothing wrong with appreciation of the aesthetics of the Zen Arts, of its paintings, beautiful paper, fragrant ink, excellence of design and harmonious gardens but it somewhat misses the point.

In the beginning of practice at our Centre, the appreciation and study of the Ch’an Arts is a small section of what is taught. Greater appreciation comes later.

Respect of ancient calligraphy is essential to learn Ch’an.

To acknowledge that someone's taste is superior to your own is the ultimate in good taste.

The four treasures of Ch’an comprise:

The INKSTONE (earth element) that comes from the labour of many beings. From this we learn friendliness and patience. It is born in mountain streams, the Winter floods wearing the coarse stones smooth for persons to use.

The INK (water element) teaches us compassion and generosity, and its fragrance teaches sweet speech and no slander. Its endurance comes from the old mountain pines of its origin and its energy from the sap rising in Spring.

Many Masters of the Ch'an Arts have illuminated the qualities of the Ink. Zen Master Mang Gong picked up a flower one day, dipped its petals in Ink, and wrote in Chinese characters "The whole world is a Single Flower".

What is written in the Tipitika is only a fragment of what the Buddha speaks but these words are sufficient to awaken us if we practice.

The BRUSH. Brush making is a skill sensitively attuned to the four seasons. The fur of animals is more luxuriant in Autumn, and when it is raining or misty, we need less water on the Brush to paint. The energy of the brush in Ch'an is fire element, and fire is in the colour of the Autumn leaves. It teaches us not to cling to the bough. It liberates us and teaches us laughter and courage.

PAPER is air element and Teaches us wisdom. It is the produce of Summer. Beautiful handmade paper begins its life along the banks of streams and dries in Summer fields. It also teaches us respect and flexibility. We use one paper for the flower and another for the land and sea.

There is a point where some hidden things are known.

Venerable Hua Wan perceives: 'The quiet mind is the moon shining on the water'.

Our Ch'an Academy Rules for Conduct are:

• Remove your shoes before entering our Hall of Assembly.

• No idle chatter in the Hall of Assembly.

• No eating or drinking in our Hall of Assembly without permission.

• Keep your mind inside and do not put it out on fellow students, images or Teachers.

• Observe mindfulness of what you touch. Do not move items on our altars unless instructed to do so because they are arranged in precise mandalas.

• Observe respect for all Teachers.

• Observe obedience to Buddhist Teachers.

• Cultivate a quiet and peaceful mind as often as you can, meaning no idle chatter.

• Observe Five Precepts: no killing, no lying, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no intoxicants that cloud the mind such as alcohol.

• Cultivate happiness in your face.

• Cultivate gratitude for the Blessings received and request to be taught how to get more Blessings. There are four aspects to Blessings;
  * Always recognise Blessings
  * Cherish Blessings everywhere
  * Cultivate Blessings all the time
  * Constantly sow the seeds of Blessings

• Be considerate of and respect the wants fellow students.

• Order and use the taught correct care procedure for the handling of 'four treasures' (ink, inkstone, brush and paper).

• Be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Hall of Assembly.

The parameters of the students' minds are encouraged to widen to perceive the beauty in nature within the garden.

You may visit our website www.buyresolved.com.au to view “Ch’an Images of Australia Over the Four Seasons”, painted in traditional style by Master John D. Hughes. This website also features a multimedia presentation called The Ancient Way of Ch’an: Timeless, Practical, Relevant in the 21st Century that includes ‘The Way of the Brush’ meditation in action videos of Master Andre Sollier, ‘The Way of the Garden’ video of the Australia Pond in the Ch’an garden and an exhibition of paintings.

We invite you to share our merit and blessings and help us to cultivate causes to assist us in preserving the long life of the Ch'an Academy and its Heavenly Buddha Dharma Garden. We will need persons to assist with advice on garden maintenance. If you are interested please ring 9754 3334.

May your attention become a cause for your karmic ascent and bring you prosperity, health and long life.

May you come to understand the four seasons and The Ancient Way of Ch'an.

May you be well and happy.

The authors and editors of this script were: John D. Hughes, Julian Bamford, Sharon Carlton, Frank Carter, Evelin Halls, Vanessa Macleod, Lisa Nelson, Lainie Smallwood, Anita Svensson and Pennie White.

Disclaimer:

As we, the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd., do not control the actions of our service providers from time to time, make no warranty as to the continuous operation of our website(s). Also, we make no assertion as to the veracity of any of the information included in any of the links with our websites, or an other source accessed through our website(s).

Accordingly, we accept no liability to any user or subsequent third party, either expressed or implied, whether or not caused by error or omission on either our part, or a member, employee or other person associated with the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

References

Fitzallen, Melva, 1992. “Understanding the Four Seasons; Understanding Ch’an”, Buddha Dhyana Dana Review, Volume 2 No. 3, September 1992, pp. 4-8, Melbourne: Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

Hughes, John D. Dip.App.Chem.T.T.T.C. G.D.A.I.E., Nicolas S. Prescott. BSc (Hons). M.B.A. and Julie M.O'Donnell. “Comment on Three Years and Three Moons Teaching of Prajnaparamita at the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.”, June 1995.

Hughes, John D., Dip.App.Chem.T.T.T.C. G.D.A.I.E., 1990, “Opening Speech: The Way of the Brush and the Way of the Garden”, 4 Februray 1990.

SangPil, Park, 2001 “The Three Universal Characteristics” Lotus Lantern Vol.3 No. 1 Autumn 2545 B.E., pp. 16-18, Korean Buddhist Chogye Order, Korea.

Document Statistics

Total:

Words: 2461
Sentences: 140
Paragraphs: 129
Syllables: 3290

Averages:
Words per sentence: 17.6
Sentences per paragraph: 1.1

Percentages:
Passive Sentences: 27

Readability Statistics
Flesch Grade Level: 8.7
Coleman-Liau Grade Level: 14.3
Bormuth Grade Level: 10.9
Flesch Reading Ease Score: 63.3
Flesch-Kincaid Score: 8.2


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May You Be Well And Happy

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