Documentary about Master Sheng Yen

[Houzan]

Many of you have probably already seen this, but maybe some who haven’t. Nice documentary about Master Sheng Yen’s life. Couple of years old.

https://youtu.be/oIjCjGszu64

Gassho, Michael
Satlah

[Bion]

Ah, lovely! Thank you! [emoji3526]

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Tokan]

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Huichan]

Great documentary. Seen it a couple of times.


Ross
stlah

[Jundo]

Thank you for sharing, and he was a wonderful teacher.

I do want to post a bit, however, of Stuart Lachs' commentary on and criticism of Rev. Sheng-Yen's biography, which calls into question large portions of the official biography and is a bit of a counter-weight to such hagiography. Mr. Lachs has a tendency to go rather overboard in his criticisms, but they are still worth heeding as a corrective to the romantic process of trying to "polish up" the biographies of perfect Zen masters, modern or ancient:

Definition of "Hagiography": A biography that treats its subject as a saintly figure, idealized and with undue reverence, especially common in religious and political biographies written by followers.

When the Saints Go Marching In: Modern Day Zen Hagiography -- By Stuart Lachs

Tricycle Magazine, perhaps the most popular Buddhist magazine in America, recently published two articles on two different Zen teachers in America. One article titled “The Wanderer” is excerpted from the book Footprints in the Snow: The Autobiography of a Chinese Buddhist Monk. It deals with the Taiwanese Buddhist monk and Chan master, Sheng Yen (born in mainland China), who died February 3, 2009. ...

“The Wanderer” or Welcome to the Land that Never Was

... Here I would like to compare his description of himself with my eighteen years of experience with him. Sheng Yen had a weak constitution, was physically frail and had a sensitive stomach. He required most of his food to be well cooked to make it easy to digest. He never became acclimated to NYC’s cold winters, and even in his centrally heated Chan Center in Queens, N.Y. during the winter months, was most often bundled up with sweaters, scarves, and a woolen hat. Although I was not studying with Sheng Yen at that time, in conversations in late 2009 with several students who were associated with Sheng Yen then - the late 1970s - I could find no substantiation of the “wandering monk in the snow” scenario. The idea of Sheng Yen roaming the city streets at night in a windy snowstorm wrapping his robes tightly around himself or sleeping in parks or doorways is highly unlikely. ...

... In late 2009, I spoke with a long-term student of Sheng Yen, who in my interpretation represents this kind of belief. This person was Sheng Yen’s student while Sheng Yen supposedly roamed the cold winter streets of NYC, sleeping in doorways and eating discarded food from dumpsters. I said that I had a little trouble believing this story. This student replied that there were some translation problems. This person knew the story was not true as written, yet believed that Sheng Yen as Chan master could only speak the truth.... It is, however, well understood by Sheng Yen’s students that the translator, Professor Rebecca Li, is a very accurate translator who has successfully translated more difficult material such as Buddhist philosophy for Sheng Yen’s talks. It is therefore highly unlikely that this lengthy and detailed account could result from mistranslation.

... It might be out of an attitude of "deference" that the above-mentioned early student of Sheng Yen’s, and possibly other followers of Sheng Yen, Chan/Zen enthusiasts, Tricycle Magazine’s editors, and the editors at Doubleday, the book’s publisher, cannot present the master as uttering anything less than the perfect truth. In effect then, the Chan master embodies the truth, just as Chan hagiographies instruct. Sheng Yen may be viewed with the same deference as old Chan masters are, that is, as a sage, so that his hagiography is to be read as scripture first and history second. I believe this story exemplifies the process by which myths of the perfected Chan master take root. ...

... In Sheng Yen’s auto-hagiography we see how power, place, and authority are overlapping elements, as is common in Chan hagiography. He mentions his power over human drives and motives, repeating a number of times that money and women were red lights for him—as was fame. He also mentions that he was the teacher of high-level officials in Taiwan and attained a worldwide recognition, hence informing us of his fame while he claims fame did not matter to him. He lets us know that the world is his home and that he traveled between Taiwan and the USA and England and China and Thailand. Hence he informs that he was a major player in the global spread of Buddhism We learn that his religious authority is clearly established by receiving Dharma transmission, the holy grail of Chan authority, from both the Linji and Caodong lineages. We are also informed that his authority and power were recognized in the secular world by giving a “keynote address at the general assembly hall of the United Nations” and receiving VIP treatment in China and Thailand. We see in this overlap of power, place, and authority that Sheng Yen presents himself as transcending the ordinary boundaries that define most people. In this depiction, he is not bound by either secular or religious limitations and moves effortlessly between both these worlds; it appears that the world is his oyster. In creating the story of “The Wanderer” Sheng Yen seems to have a sense of what Western people desire in the hagiography of a Chan master—the “Eastern genre” conveys authenticity to the Westerner. ...

https://terebess.hu/english/WhenTheSaintsGoMarching.pdf

The rest of the article might be worth reading after watching the film, as a more critical take on the story. Probably, the truth is between the romantic and highly polished ideal of the saintly master ... and Stuart Lachs' attempt to bring it all down to earth.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

PS - Note to my own students: Please start work on the "Legend of Jundo."

[Ryumon]

The Legend of Jundo Cohen, as told by AI.

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a wise man by the name of Jundo Cohen. He was a great Zen teacher, renowned for his skill in helping people learn to live in harmony and peace with the world around them.

Jundo was born into a world filled with chaos and confusion. He grew up surrounded by a culture that valued material wealth and status above all else. But Jundo was different. He was drawn to the teachings of the ancient Zen masters, and he devoted his life to their study.

As Jundo studied and practiced Zen, he began to understand the peace, stillness, and contentment that comes from living in the present moment. He was eager to share this wisdom with others, and so he took it upon himself to travel around the world, teaching and inspiring others.

He quickly gained a reputation as a master teacher, and his students were often amazed at his ability to help them see the beauty and harmony in the world around them. He taught them to be present and mindful, to appreciate the simple things in life, and to live with compassion and love.

Jundo was beloved by his students, and over the years his teachings spread far and wide. He was known as a great teacher and a wise man, and his legacy lives on today. He is remembered as a legend who helped countless people find peace and contentment.

The legend of Jundo Cohen will live on for generations to come. He was a wise teacher, a compassionate friend, and a beacon of light in a troubled world. His teachings have inspired countless people to find joy and peace in their lives.

Gassho,

Ryūmon (Kirk)

sat

[Bion]

Thank you for sharing, and he was a wonderful teacher.

I do want to post a bit, however, of Stuart Lachs' commentary on and criticism of Rev. Sheng-Yen's biography, which calls into question large portions of the official biography and is a bit of a counter-weight to such hagiography. Mr. Lachs has a tendency to go rather overboard in his criticisms, but they are still worth heeding as a corrective to the romantic process of trying to "polish up" the biographies of perfect Zen masters, modern or ancient:

Definition of "Hagiography": A biography that treats its subject as a saintly figure, idealized and with undue reverence, especially common in religious and political biographies written by followers.



The rest of the article might be worth reading after watching the film, as a more critical take on the story. Probably, the truth is between the romantic and highly polished ideal of the saintly master ... and Stuart Lachs' attempt to bring it all down to earth.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

PS - Note to my own students: Please start work on the "Legend of Jundo."

I will personally write the bit where master Jundo , reciting the Heart Sutra with thunderous voice, flew on his okesa to the Family Market everyday, to be gifted food for the hungry waiting around the zendo entrance.

[emoji1374] Sat

[Jundo]

The Legend of Jundo Cohen, as told by AI.

Well, we can allow an AI written post for this one purpose and occasion.

Portrait of Jundo the Wise (guy) ...

Gassho, J

stlah

Roman Jundo.jpg

[Houzan]

Hehehe. Lovely!

Gassho, Michael
Sat

[Kaitan]

Gassho, Bernal

Stlah

[Ankai]

Is this statue available on Amazon?

STLAH

[Onki]

Love it!!

Gasshō,

On

Sat today

[Seiko]

I can accept a few myths about Saints (or Buddhist teachers) without worrying too much. As long as they are good myths. Having someone to look up to, to emulate, isn't such a bad call.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah