Chan, the Quintessence of Reality

Chan practice constitutes the methodical comprehension of one’s mind. Through The Four-step Technique of Peace Meditation and subsequent proficiency, practitioners attain insightful understanding of their mind. Thus, generating interest in Chan practice signifies an investment in discovering oneself, subsequently fostering intellectual inquiry into existential truths and culminating in the recognition that oneself and others are an entity of interdependence.

Chan embodies the quintessence of reality, the universal mind, and the state present in all beings. Learning and practicing Chan facilitates understanding of ecology’s foundational principles. Mind and ecology constitute an indivisible unity; understanding the mind entails apprehension of our original face, simultaneously illuminating the essence of the highest teachers across different faiths—be it God, Allah, or Buddha—and our very own nature among all sentient beings. This original face, or what might be termed the aboriginal nature, maintains intricate interconnectedness with the universe, presenting a network among physiological, psychological, and technological domains and more, collectively forming the praxis of Chan.

Upon acquisition of Chan, practitioners must undertake spiritual-ecological endeavors. This imperative assumes particular significance given contemporary crises, including polar anomalies and consequent seasonal irregularities. Ecological memory is central to how the ecosystem responds to disturbance. Right now, it is in a compromised state that disrupts reproductive cycles. Species and the entire ecosystem undergo a cycle where spring brings birth, summer fosters growth, autumn yields harvest, and winter stores away—this is ecological memory, alternatively conceptualized as ecological spirituality. In the absence of ecological memory, spirituality cannot persist. Given our spiritual nature, we bear an obligation to acknowledge and comprehend ecological spirituality.

The mind is everything and the basis for all. Spirituality forms the foundation of ecology. Without the spiritual element, the ecosystem lacks mnemonic capacity and consequently cease to reproduce, inevitably resulting in species extinction. Following the collapse of biodiversity, human extinction becomes inevitable. Therefore, protecting the ecosystem means respecting the vitality of life, which reproduces, nourishes, and provides for all inhabitants. We must honor ecological value and respect the habitat that sustains all living beings without exploitation and degradation of the environment.

Through Chan practice, our understanding of ecology deepens, which engenders peace. Martial conflict is a destructive force undermining both integrity and human survival. Through Chan, we can cultivate wisdom and enhance our experiential understanding of the interdependent entity—characterized by interdependent biodiversity, interconnectedness, and mutual sustenance. Thereby connecting to the vital force of all lives.