The Great Calm-Observation
Mo-Ho Chih-Kuan
Outline of The Great Calm-Observation by Volumes:
Volume One begins withKuang-Ting's
personal introduction, which includes a historical narrative and a theoretical foundation
of the practice.
1. The Main Idea - A general overview of Buddhist inspiration, practice & realization
A. Inspiring the great mind
B. Practicing the great practice
C. Feeling the great effect
D.
Breaking the great net
E. Returning to the great place
2. Explaining it's Name - Defining Calm-Observation
(Chih-Kuan)
3. It's Embodiment and Aspects - A deeper comprehension of what
Calm-Observation is.
4. It's All-Inclusivessness - How all Buddhist teachngs,
practice & realizations are included in Calm-Observation
5. It's Partiality
& Totality - Different levels of wholeness in Calm-Observation
6. The
Ways & Means - The prerequisites to proper observation of the spiritual
life (the mind)
7. Proper Observation - Contemplation of the spiritual life
(this chapter was only partially completed)
8. The Fruits & Rewards -
The provisional and real benefits (this chapter was not written)
9. The Arising
of the Doctrine - Teaching others (this chapter was not written)
10. Returning
to the Original Intent - The intent of the Buddha (this chapter was not written)
Having
outlined the while work, he then begins Chapter One, a general overview of Buddhist insspiration,
practice and
realization which will be in five parts
Having outlines these five parts
of Chapter One, Volume One closes
with an elucidation of the first of these five parts, the inspiration
of the awakened (Bodhi) mind.
Volume Two covers the
other four parts of this general overview.
In the second part, on practice,
there is an elucidation of thee
different kinds of Buddhist contemplative practice in four parts (the Four Samadhis).
1.
Alway Seated - Seated meditation
2. Always Walking - Amitabha worship
3.
Half-Seated, Halk Walking - the practice of Chih-I's teacher Nan-Yueh (from
the estoeric Vaipulya Dharani Sutra) and Chih's own
practice (The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra)
4. Neither
Walking Nor Seated - Covering both Sutra-based (Avalotiesvara worship) and non-Sutra
based practices.
Chih-I concludes Volume Two with the last three parts of
Chapter One: 3. Feeling
the great effect, 4. Breaking the great net & 5. Returning to the great
place
These first two volumes are in many ways a summary of what follows, and are like a whole book unto itself, which is why translators have just translated the first two chapters.
Volume Three covers four
chapters:
Chapter Two: A definition of the term 'Calm-Observation'
Chapter Three:
Thes embodiment and aspects of Calm-Observation
Chapter Four: The all-inclusiveness
of Calm-Observation
Chapter Five: The partiality and totality of Calm-Observation.
Volume Four covers Chapter Six, the 25 ways & means that are the prequisites to proper practice of contemplation.
Volume Five begins Chapter Seven, the final chapter that was written
- on Proper
Observation. After an introduction to the proper
practice of spiritual contemplation, Chih-I outlines the include the Ten
Subjects of Contemplation, which will encompass the rest of the work. The Ten
Subject of Contemplation are outlined in Volume Five:
1. The Mind That is Before Us; The Aggregates of Self (the
5 Skandhas), the
Portals of the Senses (12 Ayatanas) and the Realms of Consciousness (the 18 Dhatus)
-
The Constituents of the Mind (Volume Five, Volume
Six & Volume Seven)
2. The Emotions & Desires (Volume Eight)
3. Sickness and Disease (Volume Eight)
4. The Manifestation of Karma (Volume Eight)
5. The Work of the Devil (Volume Eight)
6. Meditations (Volume Nine)
7. Views (Volume Ten)
8. Arrogance & Conceit - never written
9. The Two Vehicles - never written
10. Bodhisattvas
- never
written
Each of these Ten Subjects is observed through a
ten step process (The Ten Vehicles of
Observation)
1. Observing its Inconceivable Sphere
2. Inspiring the Mind of Mercy and Compassion
3. Skillfully Settling into Calm-Observation
4. Breaking Through (Refuting) Everything
5. Penetrating the Barriers of Consciousness
6. Cultivating the (37) Refinements of the Path
7. The Auxiliary Therapeutic Techniques
8. Recognizing the Sequential Stages of Development
9. Endurance
10. Not Clinging to Spirituality (Dharma)
Since July 9, 2001