The Way of Chan with Guo Gu

Tallahassee Chan Center
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BUDDHISM
The Way of Chan with Guo Gu

Guo Gu is a Chan teacher, author, and Buddhist scholar. He is the founder and teacher of the Tallahassee Chan Center in Florida and founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief. As one of the few teachers carrying on the living wisdom of Chan Buddhism in the West, Guo Gu has a unique ability to bring profound Buddhist teachings to life through concrete methods of practice. He has touched the hearts of many students across the globe where he leads multi-day, intensive Chan retreats in different countries. https://guogulaoshi.org

  1. 4D AGO

    The Depths Of Chan Liturgy Part 9: Samantabhadra's Eighth Vow

    “I vow to always study the teachings of the Buddha.” -Samantabhadra "Samsara is the playground of full liberation, nirvana. This is where we perfect our practice.” -Guo Gu The first seven of Samantabhadra’s vows prepare us for the core eighth vow: to follow the Buddha in study and all that it entails—to emulate his wisdom and follow his practice as a Bodhisattva. In the process, we discover that there is far greater freedom and potential within us if we can let go of our attachments, and that the only thing that truly matters is helping others. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. 1. To pay homage to all the buddhas 2. To glorify the qualities of all the tathagatas 3. To make ample offerings to all the buddhas 4. To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds 5. To rejoice in the merits of others 6. To always to request the preaching of the dharma 7. To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world 8. To always to study the teachings of the buddha 9. To always to respond to sentient beings according to their various needs 10. To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. ============================================ Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 36m

  2. MAR 10

    The Depths Of Chan Liturgy Part 8: Samantabhadra's Seventh Vow

    “I vow to request that Buddha’s dwell in the world.” Samantabhadra “When you don’t have a stallion, a donkey will do.” Guo Gu As Buddhist practitioners, we read and study the profound practice of following the Buddha from 2,500 years ago. His teachings are so powerful that they continue to influence millions of people in countless ways. Since attaining enlightenment is believed to be much more likely under the guidance of a living Buddha, we aspire to cultivate sufficient merit—through generosity, virtue, diligence, patience, wisdom, and meditation—to meet the next Buddha, Maitreya, when he appears on Earth. To practice under a Buddha and awaken is our deepest aspiration. Short of that, we must ensure we are doing everything possible to be receptive and ready for a teacher to manifest in our lives now. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. 1. To pay homage to all the buddhas 2. To glorify the qualities of all the tathagatas 3. To make ample offerings to all the buddhas 4. To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds 5. To rejoice in the merits of others 6. To always to request the preaching of the dharma 7. To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world 8. To always to study the teachings of the buddha 9. To always to respond to sentient beings according to their various needs 10. To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood .============================================ Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 16m

  3. MAR 10

    The Depths of Chan Liturgy Part 7: Samantabhadra's Sixth Vow

    “I vow to request the turning of the Dharma Wheel.” Samantabhadra “Of the three turnings of the Dharma Wheel none of them are called Making Us Feel Better…the full potential of the Buddha Dharma is not peace, not bliss, but freedom.” Guo Gu “The turning of the Dharma Wheel” refers exclusively to the Buddha’s teaching . Just as the mythical Chakravartan wielded his sword to subdue his enemies, the Buddha turned the Dharma Wheel to overcome all kleshas. There were three turnings of the Dharma Wheel, each covering a different approach to overcoming vexations. The 1st turning, which took place over the first 7 years of the Buddha’s teaching, aimed to dismantle the sense of self. The 2nd turning focused on the teaching of emptiness. The 3rd turning, sometimes called the “perfect teaching,” emphasized the interdependence of all existence. With an impassioned plea, Guo Gu reveals what he believes the 4th turning of the Dharma Wheel will be and how we can help bring it to fruition. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. 1. To pay homage to all the buddhas 2. To glorify the qualities of all the tathagatas 3. To make ample offerings to all the buddhas 4. To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds 5. To rejoice in the merits of others 6. To always to request the preaching of the dharma 7. To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world 8. To always to study the teachings of the buddha 9. To always to respond to sentient beings according to their various needs 10. To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. ============================================ Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 27m

  4. MAR 10

    The Depths of Chan Liturgy Part 6: Samantabhadra's Fifth Vow

    Merit and The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. “I vow to rejoice in the merits of others.” Samantabhadra “In order to really rejoice in the merits of others we have to be selfless.” Guo Gu Merit shapes our connections with other sentient beings and is built upon recognizing the goodness in others. People serve as mirrors, revealing what needs to be done in our practice by exposing how the self manifests—through arrogance, liking, disliking, othering, judging and other ways. By gaining distance from these habitual tendencies, we can begin to truly see the goodness in others. Guo Gu shows how we can use our One-Minute Chan practice to practice seeing the goodness in ourselves and others; building new neural pathways that will then lead to merit. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra To pay homage to all the buddhas To glorify the qualities of all the tathagatas To make ample offerings to all the buddhas To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds To rejoice in the merits of others To always to request the preaching of the dharma To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world To always to study the teachings of the buddha To always to respond to sentient beings according to their various needs To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 17m

  5. MAR 10

    The Depths of Chan Liturgy Part 5: Samantabhadra's Fourth Vow

    “I vow to repent all karmic obstructions.” Samantabhadra“ Awakening is right in this moment.” Guo Gu The Buddha taught that the foundation of everything is liberation - we are already free. What obstructs us from experiencing this is that when the six sense faculties come into contact with six sense objects, our habitual tendencies – our karmic obstructions - cause us to reify and solidify our sense of self. In order to properly receive the ultimate teaching of liberation and emptiness we have to clear the mind of its self-referentiality. This is achieved through the practice of repentance. Repentance serves as the vehicle that bridges the gap between conventional reality and the ultimate truth of liberation, allowing us to simultaneously recognize emptiness while repenting our transgressions. Tonight we are fortunate to have Guo Gu break down one of the most important texts in the whole East Asian tradition: The Repentance Ritual Pursuing the Lotus Samadhi, as laid out by Zhiyi, the founder of the Tiantai school of Buddhism. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. 1. To pay homage to all the buddhas 2. To glorify the qualities of all the tathagatas 3. To make ample offerings to all the buddhas 4. To repent all karmic obstructions. 5. To rejoice in the merits of others 6. To always to request the preaching of the dharma 7. To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world 8. To always to study the teachings of the buddha 9. To always to respond to sentient beings according to their various needs 10. To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. ============================================ Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 47m

  6. MAR 10

    The Depths of Chan Liturgy Part 4: Samantabhadra's Third Vow

    “I vow to make ample offerings to all the Buddhas.” Samantabhadra “Supporting the Three Jewels so that people can engage in practice is the ultimate object of offering.” Guo Gu The third vow of Samantabhadra, “To make ample offerings to all the Buddhas,” builds upon the first vow. If we truly honor and respect all Buddhas, recognizing that all sentient beings have the potential for awakening, then making offerings becomes a natural expression of this understanding, encouraging us to transcend our self-centeredness and cultivate generosity, reverence, and humility. In essence, this vow guides us to use every encounter and action as a practice of generosity. By reflecting on our interconnectedness, we recognize that what we give was never truly “ours” to begin with. It arises from the conditions and contributions of countless beings. This understanding naturally fosters a feeling of humility and gratitude, generating great merit and creating conditions conducive to awakening for ourselves and others. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra. 1. To pay homage to all the buddhas 2. To glorify the qualities of all the tathagatas 3. To make ample offerings to all the buddhas 4. To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds 5. To rejoice in the merits of others 6. To always to request the preaching of the dharma 7. To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world 8. To always to study the teachings of the buddha 9. To always to respond to sentient beings according to their various needs 10. To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. ============================================ Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 31m

  7. MAR 10

    The Depths Of Chan Liturgy Part 3: Samantabhadra's Second Vow

    “I vow to glorify the qualities of all the Tathagatas.” Samantabhadra “In the moment in which you are solidifying and reifying someone into a ‘thing,’ look at it and put it down…that is the way to praise the Tathagata…when we practice the dharma.” Guo Gu There are 10 honorific titles of the Buddha that reveal the merit, honor and wisdom of the Buddha. Guo Gu uses these 10 names to steer us deeper into our practice, beginning with the first, Tathagata, meaning “thus come, thus gone.” In Buddhism it refers to things as they are. It’s an honorific that encapsulates the Buddha’s teachings challenging the dualistic ideas with which we try to reify things. All beings have this Buddha nature within, and the challenge is to transcend the ways in which we try to pigeonhole our experiences into having/lacking, coming/going, arising/ceasing and existing/not existing and attain the freedom of no self. Like "a bird that is flying in the vast open sky or a fish that swims in clear limpid water. The bird does not question the sky. The sky is its home, and water is the domain of the fish." Such freedom. We are all swimming in the freedom of our domain. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra To pay homage to all the Buddhas To glorify the qualities of all the Tathagatas To make ample offerings to all the Buddhas To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds To rejoice in the merits of others To always request the preaching of the Dharma To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world To always study the teachings of the Buddha To always respond to sentient beings according to their various needs To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    2h 4m

  8. MAR 10

    The Depths of Chan Liturgy Part 2: Samantabhadra's First Vow

    “I vow to pay homage to all the Buddhas.” Samantabhadra “The worst thing that we can do is deny other people the possibility of change.” Guo Gu In the Avatamsaka or Flower Ornament Sutra, in what has been called The Perfect Teaching, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva emphasizes interdependence and the infinite perspectives inherent in reality, guiding us away from dualistic and self-centered ways of seeing other people and the world. Recognizing the potential Buddha in everyone not only transforms our relationships but also reshapes our understanding of the world, rooting us in compassion and wisdom. In his teaching, Guo Gu offers us a way to begin this practice and set ourselves on the path to awakening. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, outlined in the Avatamsaka Sutra, are profound principles for those on the path to Buddhahood. These vows represent a complete path of dedication, compassion, and commitment to benefiting all beings. They provide a framework for practice that not only transforms the self but also brings wisdom and compassion into the world. The Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra To pay homage to all the Buddhas To glorify the qualities of all the Tathagatas To make ample offerings to all the Buddhas To confess and repent of all one's misdeeds To rejoice in the merits of others To always request the preaching of the Dharma To entreat enlightened beings to remain in the world To always study the teachings of the Buddha To always respond to sentient beings according to their various needs To dedicate all merits to sentient beings that they may achieve Buddhahood. Join the Tallahassee Chan Center online for live meditations and discussion Monday through Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST. Learn more at https://tallahasseechan.org/events/.

    1h 28m
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    About

    Guo Gu is a Chan teacher, author, and Buddhist scholar. He is the founder and teacher of the Tallahassee Chan Center in Florida and founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief. As one of the few teachers carrying on the living wisdom of Chan Buddhism in the West, Guo Gu has a unique ability to bring profound Buddhist teachings to life through concrete methods of practice. He has touched the hearts of many students across the globe where he leads multi-day, intensive Chan retreats in different countries. https://guogulaoshi.org

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    • Creator
      Tallahassee Chan Center
    • Years Active
      2K
    • Episodes
      24
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Tallahassee Chan Center
    • Show Website
      The Way of Chan with Guo Gu

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