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Preface
I have experienced almost all the rights and all the wrongs, sometimes being deep in agony, sometimes tasting an enormous joy and bliss in the course of the way. It was a great and precious blessing that I had my spiritual teachers nearby and had the chance for my practice to be appraised. This led me to the great asset of sitting meditation. In order to share this precious asset, I now try to write this commentary on ¡°The Method of Sitting Meditation¡±.
It is a pity that some practitioners of the Way do not understand the value of sitting meditation, or do not find its righteous path, and thus wander about.
Meditation is not the cultivation of the outer surroundings or conditions, but is the way to cultivate the mind, which is the base of all things. Once we train and cultivate the mind and find its power, that resulting power becomes an eternal strength which we can use in everyday life through eternity. What could be a greater treasure than this!
Hobbies or other work in which one trains oneself in a particular field can develop capabilities when one trains very hard in that field. But when training is not accompanied by meditation, there will arise some weak points, which can become the cause of big trouble when one faces trying situations. The strengths one gains in training oneself for specific types of situations cannot be applied widely, for the resulting capabilities are limited to those situations. But the spiritual power that practitioners cultivate based on centering the mind can be applied to all cases and situations, so that when one acquires the precious jewel of spiritual power one acquires great fortune.
Practitioners will gain many benefits from sitting meditation, as is explained in Chungjeon. But once practitioners transcend the mind-disturbing wandering thoughts, they can obtain a great liberation of mind, and once their concentration dwells at the Danjeon, a great power of stability will be cultivated. They can become so powerful and talented in whatever they try to do, that this merit alone would be a great achievement. Even if one does not walk on the great and supreme way of meditation, the constant and sincere practice of sitting meditation will produce an increase in determination, perseverance, endurance, and more.
If one walks on the righteous path of sitting meditation, we can imagine what greater merits will result. Therefore I write this in order that practitioners can find and walk on the righteous path of meditation. My hope is that by this writing many students can be helped in their practice of sitting meditation.
Kwang-jung Lee
(Ven. Chwasan)
Head Dharma Master
Won Buddhism
25 October 1997
