A few weeks ago, after reading a comment under the Jack Laubner episode suggesting a guest knowledgeable on Chinese Chan would be interesting, I had the thought that Guo Gu would be perfect. And lo and behold, here he is! Just wow. “Wow” is the reaction I keep having when a new Guru Viking episode pops up. Thank you for this seva. 🙏
For those like me who are enjoying this amazing teacher and his teachings, I just thought I might facilitate understanding of his use of "wonderment" (at 1:09:40 and passim) in this video. After hearing him use this word two or three times, I finally realized that he meant "confusion", as in "I wonder what that was all about?" The word "wonderment" is usually used to mean "awe", but I guess he based his use of it on the verb "to wonder (if)..." and so he uses it to mean "confusion" (i.e. a "negative" state), and not "awe" (which could be a "positive" state). And for those who didn't need (or want) my intrusive "explaining", please accept my apologies for "putting legs on a snake"! @_@
I see what you mean, but the way he uses it (1:13:30 and 1:24:57 for example, too) also seems to imply a kind of "questioning"; a trying to find the answer to some question or problem; a "not knowing," but not in the "Zen" sense of being Satisfied with that state of "not knowing"; rather there still seems to be a Wanting to know, a Seeking to understand? And in that sense, the state is still "unpleasant"; something that he was trying to Work Through? A kind of "stuck-ness" that he was trying to See Through? The sense of "being at a loss"; a "bewilderment"?
@@ianinjapan2 this word is a vocabulary in a training method from Chan / Rinzai zen on how to work with koan. Another common word is Doubt, this sense of doubt is used to doubt your own belief, your little self, so it break and the real self can emerge
@@guido3771 but I wouldn't be arrogant enough to assume my never seeing supernatural ability equates with the non existence of such things. Also I wouldn't be quick to trust a recording of said abilities.
The perspective of western Zen or Japanese Zen is very different from Chan tradition from China or those that currently exist in Vietnam where the master points out teachings very publically, not only privately in dokusan to test the student's self-attachment and the practice for humility. I doubt many students will remain after such public tests of ego attachment.
If you follow the teachings of Taoist internal alchemy you ought to develop siddhis pretty quickly, after your jing transforms into qi. You have to turn the light of the mind around and fast from thoughts, let go of and not identify with them, fast from food, because that activates the vagus nerve, and fast from lustful and worldly desires, because that's the energy-information which gets transformed, what would otherwise become "bodily fluids". Then follow the techniques and you'll feel heat or fire where you mind is focuses internally. The heat eventually goes away and the energy matures into magnetic energy and is stored behind the navel. That energy circulates around the body opening up the meridians and more energy is extracted from the internal organs too. In time the whole body, down to the level of bone marrow, is renewed by the energy. There will be an invisible energy field around the body formed around the taichi pole which runs down the centre of the body, from heaven to earth. Qi transforms into shen, which is nonlocal light, the light of the mind. At that stage you'll be able to bilocate with the yang shen body. Shen is tempered by the emptiness of the void, wuji. The last level returns wuji to the tao.
A few weeks ago, after reading a comment under the Jack Laubner episode suggesting a guest knowledgeable on Chinese Chan would be interesting, I had the thought that Guo Gu would be perfect. And lo and behold, here he is! Just wow. “Wow” is the reaction I keep having when a new Guru Viking episode pops up. Thank you for this seva. 🙏
A disciple of Sheng Yen -- what an honor!
Very heartfelt and instructive interview. Thank you both gentleman 🙏🙏🙏
Guo Gu is really knowledgable about the subject and is very good at transfering this knowledge
His devotion to his teacher is beautiful.
Wow, I’ve been drawn to Shen Yen due to his simple explanation of living in non existence. Thank you for this post and wonderful guest.
Thanks! Good one!
Was completely absorbed in this interview and felt enveloped in his presence. Looking forward to additional interviews with Guo Gu.
I love Chan buddhist, witty, cutting and poignant
Thanks for sharing wisdom 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💐💐🍂🍂
I really appreciate your work deeply 🙏
Great interview as always! I love his emphasis on humility, it's not something we hear all that much about these days.
Thank you! 🙏🏿
Thank you Steve! I'm really grateful for your podcasts! Always great and interesting guests.
Astonishing, deep gratitude to you both. 🙏🏼
What an amazing interview. Thank you so much for all your work.
Many thanks 🙏🏻
Glad you got him on! I tried to get him on Meta Perspective about 2 months ago and his people shut me down hard! Looking forward to this one!
Thank you.
high quality interviews 👌
Fantastic interview. Many thanks to both of you.
For those like me who are enjoying this amazing teacher and his teachings, I just thought I might facilitate understanding of his use of "wonderment" (at 1:09:40 and passim) in this video. After hearing him use this word two or three times, I finally realized that he meant "confusion", as in "I wonder what that was all about?"
The word "wonderment" is usually used to mean "awe", but I guess he based his use of it on the verb "to wonder (if)..." and so he uses it to mean "confusion" (i.e. a "negative" state), and not "awe" (which could be a "positive" state).
And for those who didn't need (or want) my intrusive "explaining", please accept my apologies for "putting legs on a snake"! @_@
Actually, having sat with Guo Gu, I can say that he does not mean confusion. He is referring to what is often translated as "not knowing."
I see what you mean, but the way he uses it (1:13:30 and 1:24:57 for example, too) also seems to imply a kind of "questioning"; a trying to find the answer to some question or problem; a "not knowing," but not in the "Zen" sense of being Satisfied with that state of "not knowing"; rather there still seems to be a Wanting to know, a Seeking to understand? And in that sense, the state is still "unpleasant"; something that he was trying to Work Through? A kind of "stuck-ness" that he was trying to See Through? The sense of "being at a loss"; a "bewilderment"?
@@ianinjapan2 this word is a vocabulary in a training method from Chan / Rinzai zen on how to work with koan. Another common word is Doubt, this sense of doubt is used to doubt your own belief, your little self, so it break and the real self can emerge
One of my teachers (a Nyingma Khenpo) also told taught that the common siddhis (supernatural abilities) come from intense shamatha.
There are none. Otherwise bring them on TV with experts.
@@guido3771 Ah I see you read my comment about my closet full of siddhas. Let me pull one out and record it for you.
@@guido3771 Sarcasm aside I have never seen any such supernatural abilities.
@@guido3771 but I wouldn't be arrogant enough to assume my never seeing supernatural ability equates with the non existence of such things. Also I wouldn't be quick to trust a recording of said abilities.
The perspective of western Zen or Japanese Zen is very different from Chan tradition from China or those that currently exist in Vietnam where the master points out teachings very publically, not only privately in dokusan to test the student's self-attachment and the practice for humility. I doubt many students will remain after such public tests of ego attachment.
If you follow the teachings of Taoist internal alchemy you ought to develop siddhis pretty quickly, after your jing transforms into qi.
You have to turn the light of the mind around and fast from thoughts, let go of and not identify with them, fast from food, because that activates the vagus nerve, and fast from lustful and worldly desires, because that's the energy-information which gets transformed, what would otherwise become "bodily fluids". Then follow the techniques and you'll feel heat or fire where you mind is focuses internally.
The heat eventually goes away and the energy matures into magnetic energy and is stored behind the navel. That energy circulates around the body opening up the meridians and more energy is extracted from the internal organs too. In time the whole body, down to the level of bone marrow, is renewed by the energy. There will be an invisible energy field around the body formed around the taichi pole which runs down the centre of the body, from heaven to earth.
Qi transforms into shen, which is nonlocal light, the light of the mind. At that stage you'll be able to bilocate with the yang shen body.
Shen is tempered by the emptiness of the void, wuji. The last level returns wuji to the tao.
It's always interesting to read what kind of people like and follow a certain teacher ...
Wisdom whispered by a venerable dharma whisperer...