The Meditation Hall in Shaolin Temple, with a history of more than 1500 years, is located on either side of the Sutra-Keeping Pavilion. It was destroyed in flames of war in 1928. The Records of Shaolin Temple said: “The east Meditation Hall on the North of the Dinning Hall” “The west Meditation Hall is on the north of storeroom”. The east and west Meditation Halls are behind the Mahaviro Hall. The east and west Meditation Halls were rebuilt on their sites in 1981. The former east Meditation Hall was renamed Shaolin Incense Hall and the west Meditation Hall renamed the Guest Hall.
Detail»Chan Qi
Annual
Revelation
Buddha did not gain enlightenment completely in those years through different kinds of cultivation or practice. Finally, he got under the bodhi tree, sit in meditation and made a vow: “If not attain enlightenment, I would never leave here.” Buddha enlightened after seven days when he saw the bright star. Thus Chan Qi originated from this, which means attain enlightenment in certain time. Then Chan Hall is also called the site to choose Buddha where Buddha would be chosen in seven days according to qualifications, which has become a feature of Chan Buddhism since the Song Dynasty. Chan monasteries hold practice to achieve realization within a set timeframe every winter. Chan Qi takes 7 days as a period or a session called Da Chan Qi, totaling 7 sessions, 49 days. Monks take more efforts to sit in meditation than usual in Chan Qi. Detail»
November 19 or the 5th day of the tenth lunar month is the birthday of Patriarch Bodhidharma when Shaolin Temple’s first 7-day session Qi Qi of diligent and progressive Chan Qi started in winter this year. This Chan Qi invited master Shaoyun, master Xiuuan, master Benru, master Yaorong, master Longzhong and master Zhengchao as the first seat, master Yandian as the west seat
On December 27, 2018, at 7:30 am, with Shaolin Temple’s abbot Shi Yongxin saying “Jie” (Chinese: 解), Shaolin Temple’s Jing Jin Qi (Chinese: 精進七) or Chan Meditation Improving Session completed Jieqi (Chinese: 解七) successfully
Sept. 16, 2020 or the 29th day of the seventh lunar month is the birthday of Earth Store Bodhisattva. Shaolin Temple’s sub-temple--Miaoyan Chan Temple’s 7-day Earth Store dharma assembly was completed successfully in Taizhou, Zhejiang province.
On November 22, 2017 or October 5 of the lunar calendar, it is the birthday of Patriarch Bodhidharma. The origin of Chan, Shaolin Temple, will start its annual “Chan Session” in winter and today is the beginning of Chan Session. This Chan Session invited the elder monk Shaoyun, Master Xiuyuan, Master Yaorong and Master Longzhong as the first seats,
“Reciting and dining continue observing discipline, Jieqi the same as Qiqi--Jie(Ending)!” On December 19, 2019, at 7:30am. With abbot of Shaolin Temple Master Shi Yongxin’s voice saying“Jie”, Chan meditation improving session of Chan qi in Shaolin Temple in Jihai Year
When I finished writing the first chapter, it was published in installments in the Journal of Modern Buddhism. I used the pseudonym, “Yin Shui”(drink water), derived from the text Suramgama Sutra that reads “One perceives whether the water is cold or warm only when one drinks it.” A friend of mine asked why I chose such an insignificant title. I replied, “I prefer to make a fuss about trifles rather than underplaying a big issue, not to mention completely ignoring significant subjects.” The title of this book is in conformity with my wish.
2023-09-15
2023-08-25