Yang Ning

Reflections on the Spiritual Journey (2of2) — Returning to the Ordinary Along with my clinging to the Dharma and the deepening of my cultivation and realization—especially the strengthening of my meditative concentration—my distracting thoughts grew fewer and fewer. My state of mind began to become pure, my heart broadened, and I became capable of endurance … Read more

Reflections on the Spiritual Journey (1of2) — Infancy and Adolescence True cultivation and realization of the Buddha’s teachings is a process of allowing our minds to grow, elevate, and transform. It allows our hearts to truly mature, becoming inclusive, compassionate, and universally loving toward all things in this world. Otherwise, we just grow older in … Read more

II. Superior Female Alchemy Practice Sit in either a full lotus or half lotus posture. 1. Hold the breasts with both hands. Massage both breasts inward 36 times (or a multiple of 36), then massage them outward 36 times (or a multiple of 36). While massaging, quietly observe the Shanzhong point (the location in the … Read more

I. The Great Illumination Method 1. Step One: Illuminating the mind and seeing your true nature. Sit cross-legged (full lotus is best, but half lotus or loose cross-legged is also fine), with your hands resting casually on your knees, palms facing up. Visualize that directly beneath your seat is an identical you (just as if … Read more

Common Problems for Beginners in Sitting Meditation 1. Modern people are accustomed to thinking and often overuse their brains. Because they carry too many worries in their minds, their energy often pools in the head, making it very difficult to relax the entire body when they first start sitting meditation. The key to full-body relaxation … Read more

I Like Zen Zen points directly to the human mind, leading to sudden enlightenment and becoming a Buddha. Its sharp verbal exchanges make it thoroughly exhilarating for analytically minded people to study, giving them a feeling of suddenly finding a path out of a dead end, a burst of utter clarity, and coming back to … Read more

Do Not Reject or Deny Any Dharma Door; All Dharma Doors Are Equal I once came across a saying: “The Pure Land encompasses all dharma doors.” Because I had studied more of the theories of Zen and Vajrayana, I thought to myself, “Isn’t this too arrogant? How can they say that?” Dharma doors are equal. … Read more

How to View an Enlightened Teacher Correctly so You Can Ultimately Benefit 1. First of all, do not have overly high expectations of an enlightened teacher. In our minds, an enlightened teacher must be saintly, wise, and compassionate. Little do we know that most enlightened teachers have merely perfected their view, but are not yet … Read more