This document provides an introduction to Buddhism and meditation practices taught at Cham Shan Temple. It discusses concepts like the three refuges of Buddhism, meditation techniques like walking meditation and counting breaths, proper sitting posture, and observing the mind. It also previews the first two chapters of Buddha's life, how he sought enlightenment and became Buddha after realizing the Middle Way. The document aims to introduce newcomers to basic Buddhist teachings and meditation.

1. Buddhist Association of Canada Cham Shan Temple 加拿大佛教會 湛山精舍 禪修學佛入門 Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation 2011/02/26

2. Buddhist Association of Canada Cham Shan Temple ná mó fó tuó 南 無 佛 陀 Namo Buddha ná mó dá mó 南 無 達 摩 Namo Dharma ná mó sēng qié 南 無 僧 伽 Namo Sangha

3. Meditation禪修 Towards a Liberated and Enlightened Life 煩惱輕智慧長

4. Lotus Flower Blossoms From Your Footstep 每一步都使蓮花開花 When you are walking, you are aware of that: Your heal is up. You are lifting your foot. Your body is moving forward. You are lowering your foot. You are touching the floor with your toes. You are pressing your foot on floor.

5. The Miracle of Mindfulness in Your Walking正念奇跡 Breathing呼吸 Walking行 Counting數 Keeping a half-smile微笑 This can generate: Mindfulness正念 Concentration 專注 One-pointedness一心 Peace和平 Happiness and Appreciation.愉快感謝心

6. Walking with Appreciation The miracle is to walk on the earth The miracle is to walk on empty space. The miracle is to walk on empty space with energy balance. The miracle is “you are walking and breathing”.

7. Walking Meditation You are walking in the moon Walking with one foot on the ground. You are landing on earth with another foot. You re-gain your freedom. Your foot is a king’s seal. A lotus flower blossoms from each footstep The earth emerges.

8. Sitting 7 Postures: 調身七支坐法 足支：結跏趺坐 Full/half lotus/free seat 雙單散盤，足心向上 腰脊支：脊直肩平 Spine and neck straight, back flat 背平頸直 手支：手結定印 Left palm below abdomen, right palm on the left palm, thumbs touching each other 姆指相挂 肩胛支：頂門向上 shoulder upright and head top 頭正容寬，收斂下顎 Chin withdrawn 头颈支： Head upright and neck straight 舌支：舌抵上顎 Tongue on upper jaw 兩唇輕合 目支：雙眼平視 ，半開半閉 ， 視若無睹Eyes level and natural 開合自然,

9. Observing Your Mind Aware of breathing, counting, sensing, and smiling. Observing your thoughts without commenting. Always bring your consciousness back to the present of moment if your mind is wandering. Keep yourself always calm, relax but focusing on what you are doing. Appreciate your breathing, counting, sensing and smiling.

10. Counting Breaths Very relaxingly and unconcernedly count from 1 to 10. Count your breaths, calling one exhalation and inhalation just on breath. When you have reached ten, resume counting from 1 again. As your skill develops, you will be able to count to 100 in 10 groups of ten, without having your mind wander and without dropping off to sleep.

11. Achievements in Counting Breaths Your breath is slowing down. Your mind is becoming more peaceful. Confusion and sleepiness decrease. You trace your breath as if the breath is felt to enter and leave through your pores. You experience yourself dissipating like a cloud and melting away like a fog.

12. Chapter One The meaning of Buddha What does Buddha mean? Who is Tathagata? What is the difference between awareness and enlightenment? What is ignorance? Do you know how many levels of awakening? Is Buddha a human being?

13. Chapter One The meaning of Buddha The term Buddha means "Awakened". As he fully comprehended the Four Noble Truths and as he arose from the slumbers of ignorance he is called a Buddha. Since he not only comprehends but also expounds the doctrine and enlightens others, He is called a Samma-Sambuddha --a Fully Enlightened One.

14. Chapter One The meaning of Buddha Buddha means awakened one. 佛是覺者 Awakening includes awareness and enlightenment. 覺有覺察和覺悟

15. Chapter One The meaning of Buddha There are three levels of awakening: Eliminate all the hindrance of seeing and thinking 見思惑 (自覺) Able to enlighten others塵沙惑 (覺他) Eliminate all ignorance無明惑 (覺滿)

16. Chapter Two Gautama Buddha’s Life (1) Siddhartha Gautama, Known as the Buddha, was born in the sixth century B.C. in what is now modern Nepal. His father, Suddhodana, was the ruler of the Sakya people and Siddhartha grew up living the extravagant life of a young prince. According to custom, he married at the age of 16 with a young girl named Yasodhara. His father had ordered that he live a life of total seclusion, but one day Siddhartha ventured out into the world and was confronted with the reality of the inevitable suffering of life. The next day, at the age of 29, he left his kingdom and newborn son to lead an ascetic life and determine a way to relieve universal suffering.

17. Chapter Two Gautama Buddha’s Life (1) For six years, Siddhartha submitted himself to rigorous ascetic practices, studying and following different methods of meditation with various religious teachers. But he was never fully satisfied. One day, however, he was offered a bowl of rice and milk from a young girl and he accepted it. In that moment, he realized that physical austerities were not the means to achieve liberation. From then on, he encouraged people to follow a path of balance rather than extremism. He called this The Middle Way.

18. Chapter Two Gautama Buddha’s Life (1) That night Siddhartha sat under the Bodhi tree, and meditated until dawn. He purified his mind of all defilements and attained enlightenment at the age of thirty-five, thus earning the title Buddha, or “Fully Enlightened One”. For the remainder of his eighty years, the Buddha preached the Dharma in an effort to help other sentient beings reach enlightenment.

19. Questions and Comments 討論 www.ChamShanTemple.org www.shengguangshi.blogspot.com ShengguangShi@hotmail.com Shengguang Shi 釋聖光 Tom Cheung 張相棠 Kam Cheung 張仁勤 Dennis Yap 葉普智