Vajrayana Buddhism Association

10/29/2024

𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑮𝒖𝒓𝒖

Master Tam Shek Wing passed away in Toronto, Canada on 26 October 2024 at the age of 90.

Though fully aware of the Guru being at ease in life and in death, the acceptance of an abrupt change in the multi-decades of mentorship where Master Tam strenuously taught inevitably put disciples in great grief – there is no way to repay his grace towards us. Prayer is to his prompt return to us for the benefit of all living beings.

On behalf of the Tam family, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone that has helped.

– Vajrayana Buddhism Association

09/01/2024

In Aug. 2022 we began posting a monthly column of Master Tam's commentary to the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment. It was written in response to readers' request for a down-to-earth guide to Buddha's teaching, when Master Tam picked this sutra as a roadmap. After two years, we have come to the last column where Buddha answered on conducting meditation retreats. In this sutra, Buddha introduced three meditation practices (śamatha, samapatti, and dhyāna), and how they can be combined in 25 ways. Here, Buddha would instruct on the practicality of organizing retreats and how best to prioritize the three meditations.

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/09/01/perfect-enlighte…itation-retreats/

As with many sutras, it ends with a dissemination section, where Buddha instructs on the merits of the practice; embodying and protecting, and disseminating the teaching. Master Tam further instructs on putting aside one's biases, sectarian or not, in order to follow Buddha's footsteps:

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/09/01/perfect-enlightenment-35-dissemination/

For the interested readers, the entire commentary can be accessed through the table of content:

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2022/10/26/perfect-enlightenment-table-of-contents/

05/01/2024

As we enter the month of May, Master Tam, the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism Association, will also be turning a festive 90. Coincidentally we have come to the part of the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment where Buddha discusses the four stages of realization, "At first, one cognizes the self, from which it proceeds in stages as the trace of person, sentient beings, and longevity." At each stage of realization, one also becomes grasps at it. For example, for the stage of longevity, Master Tam wrote:

"Practitioners with the trace of longevity have surpassed defilement, like hot water melting ice, where there is no longer ice. When the defilement of the previous three types is eliminated, though free from the duality of subject and object, the practitioner of longevity still grasps at the awareness like grasping one’s life-faculty. As in the analogy of hot water melting ice, while there is no longer ice, one becomes attached to the melting."

That said, the discussion on the four traces sets the stage for Buddha's discussion on the revelation of the nature of dharma. Stay tuned for next month's column.

https://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/05/01/perfect-enlightenment-29-buddha-reveals-the-nature-of-phenomena-part-1/

Here we take the opportunity to pray for the world. May the world be free of weapons and warfares, disasters and diseases!

03/27/2024

As we enter into the month of April, Master Tam's commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment continues. After Buddha has presented the 25 expedient practices of śamatha, samāpatti, and dhyāna, the topic on meditation has not come to a close. Here the next bodhisattva asks Buddha, if the enlightened mind is originally pure, then what kind of defilements cause sentient beings to remain in suffering and not enter into the realm of wisdom. Up until now, we have only discussed the nature of awareness/enlightenment, but now we have turned to the nature of phenomena, and whether there is a difference between the two.

https://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/03/27/perfect-enlightenment-28-purifier-of-all-karmic-hinderances-revealing-the-nature-of-dharma/

02/29/2024

Entering into the month of March, Master Tam's commentary on Buddha's teaching in the Perfect Enlightenment Sutra continues. In this column, Buddha concludes with the last practice of the simultaneous of śamatha, samāpatti, and dhyāna. On the oneness of practice, Master Tam said it this way:

"Because all dharma are equal, practicing one meditation is like practicing any meditation. A practitioner of sharp faculty does not have to pursuit many teachings, nor is there a need to examine every single practices. Entering one entrance, reaching the ultimate realization, is like simultaneously realizing all practices. Huineng, the Sixth Master of Chan, was illiterate, was not able to read the scriptures. From his perspective, there were not all that many practices. But whenever someone came to inquire about the practice, it was as if he was fluent in the entire Buddhist Canon, there was not a practice that he didn’t know. This is an example of penetrating through one practice, one also thoroughly knows all practices."

On that note, as we enter into the spring season, we pray for a spring-like vitality, praying for peace and vitality for the world and for all beings.

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/02/29/perfect-enlightenment-27-buddha-teaches-25-expedient-practices-part-6/

02/01/2024

With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, Master Tam's commentary to the Perfect Enlightenment Sutra continues. In this post, Buddha continues with the expedient practices, introducing the 18th to the 24th. This set of seven practices, according to Master Tam, "is said to have dhyāna as the main practice, they are not dhyāna only practices. Here the practitioner begins with dhyāna, then one proceeds to the other two. As well, within dhyāna itself, it is also inclusive of the other two practices. As discussed before, the dhyāna practice is in fact śamatha of dhyāna, samāpatti of dhyāna, dhyāna of dhyāna." Here, while the practices include cessation-extinction, Master Tam warns of the danger of dullness in meditation -- the path towards Buddhahood is a coalescent realm of wisdom and consciousness, a realm that is vivacious and full of vitality. Vitality is particularly a theme in this set of practices; it is a transformative force that can be beneficial for all sentient beings.

https://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/02/01/perfect-enlightenment-26-buddha-teaches-25-expedient-practices-part-5/

01/01/2024

Happy New Year. We wish everyone peace, good health, wisdom and happiness in 2024. On that note, we continue on with Master Tam's commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment. Here, he wrote:

"Buddha answers Voice of Discernment by teaching the twenty-five expedient devices. Now we have introduced ten practices, we move on to the next set of alternating practices, the eleventh to the seventeenth. For this set, samāpatti is the core practice.

We have previously pointed out that the practice of śamatha is not solely a practice of śamatha, it is simply that a primary practice of śamatha would lead to the fruition of quiescent wisdom. Now the emphasis is on samāpatti, it is similarly not a case of samāpatti-only without nary a trace of other practices. It is simply that a primary practice of samāpatti would lead to the fruition of being free from the binds of illusion."

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2024/01/01/perfect-enlightenment-25-buddha-teaches-25-expedient-practices-part-4/

11/30/2023

Master Tam's commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment continues. This column will discuss the next seven of the 25 meditations, where Buddha presents how it is also valid to combine the three practices of śamatha, samāpatti, and dhyāna to achieve enlightenment. Ways to peace, liberation, and awareness are many. The number of ways described is 25, but showcases how Buddha-nature is a treasure embedded everywhere to be uncovered. According to Master Tam,

"We begin with the śamatha-based practices (the fourth to the tenth practices). Note that the śamatha-based practices do not mean that one practices śamatha only and nothing else. Because in the practice of śamatha, it has already aspects of samāpatti and dhyāna. To practice śamatha first, it means śamatha is the main practice, such that through śamatha, one becomes accomplished by arousing awareness. For example, practicing śamatha one attains the fruition of quiescent wisdom. If the main practice is samāpatti, one attains the fruition of transcending illusion; if the main practice is dhyāna, one attains the fruition of severing affliction."

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2023/11/30/perfect-enlightenment-25-buddha-teaches-25-expedient-practices-part-3/

11/06/2023

We would like to repost an old video produced for Master Tam's 80th birthday painting exhibition. It contains a recording of a lecture of his on the Buddha-within and the Great Perfection that is particularly apt for the times we live in -- that whatever hasn't made an appearance yet -- Master Tam used the physics idea of "dark energy" as an analogy -- the vitality of dharmakaya perpetually exists, wisdom and compassion perpetually exist. Like the paintings of Master Tam, they are a spontaneous outpour of mind, where this perpetual life force is also a manifestation of wisdom and compassion -- we cannot preclude it from its manifestation.

On this note, whether you are a practitioner of Buddhist meditation or not, together we make a wish dedicated to the world:

May the names of weapons and wars, sickness and disasters be forever unheard. 願刀兵災病之名亦不聞!

Final cut for the video presentation at the opening ceremony at Tam and Five Friends exhibition at Todmorden Mills Heritage Site (Toronto), Sunday, June 23, ...

10/26/2023

Master Tam's commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment continues. This column will discuss the first three of the 25 meditation practices: śamatha-only, samāpatti-only, and dhyāna-only practices:

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2023/10/26/perfect-enlightenment-25-buddha-teaches-25-expedient-practices-part-2/

09/25/2023

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2023/09/25/perfect-enlightenment-24-buddha-teaches-25-expedient-practices-part-1/

Perfect Enlightenment 24: Buddha Teaches 25 Expedient Practices, Part 1 by envba · September 25, 2023 Show scripture (Chinese).Show less. Chinese: 爾時，世尊告辯音菩薩言：「善哉！善哉！善男子！汝等乃能為諸大眾及末世眾生，問於如來，如是修習。汝今諦.....

09/02/2023

Beginning Oct. 2023, we will be offering guided meditation every first Saturday of every month 10-11am at our Toronto location. One meditation is called non-duality of mind-and-wind. In the past, we have offered guided meditation for people diagnosed with cancer and multiple sclerosis.

"Wind" is movement. When the mind moves, our breathing goes with it. In this meditation, we take advantage of breathing. By uniting the mind and breathing, we cultivate the skill and foundation for further meditation, for rest and clarity.

Our location is 705 Middlefield Road 2nd Floor in Scarborough (McCowan and McNicoll).

We can also be reached by email contact [dot] vbato [at] yahoo [dot] com

For 2023, the dates are Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2.

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For those who are interested in a more scriptural perspective, Master Tam's column on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment is on-going, which happens to discuss the meditations of śamatha, samāpatti, and dhyāna:

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2023/08/28/perfect-enlightenment-23-voice-of-discernment/

For those who wish to revisit previous columns, here is the table of content:

http://www.vbatoronto.org/en/2022/10/26/perfect-enlightenment-table-of-contents/

Happy Reading!