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'Not a single one of you people at this meeting is unenlightened. Everyone here is a Buddha. So listen carefully! Each of you received the Buddha-Mind from your mothers when you were born, and nothing else. This inherited Buddha-Mind is beyond any doubt unborn and marvellously illuminating.
'Conclusively realise that what’s unborn and marvellously illuminating is truly the Buddha-Mind, and straight away abide in the Unborn just as it is, and you’re a living Buddha from that moment and forever after.' -Zen master Bankei. |
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What is the Unborn?
The Unborn, or the Unborn Buddha-Mind, is Zen master Bankei's term for the 'true nature' that all Zen practices ultimately point to. Bankei's teaching was profoundly simple, rooted in what he called 'Resting in the Unborn': first discovering, then subsequently abiding in, our Unborn Buddha-Mind. Bankei's teachings are beautiful and inspiring, but can prove difficult to put into practice if you aren't already familiar with the language of awareness teachings. So I've written a book which attempts to unpack Bankei's teachings, providing a step-by-step approach rooted firmly in direct experience, using a mixture of meditation techniques and other practical exercises, so that we can each discover our Unborn Buddha-Mind for ourselves. The book also includes a detailed appendix on Silent Illumination, a practice which complements Bankei's approach very well. You can download Resting in the Unborn in a variety of e-book formats from this website. Alternatively, if you'd like a physical copy, you can order one from the Lulu store. Resting in the Unborn is offered freely. (The cost of the physical copy only covers production costs, and the e-books are completely free.) If you'd like to make a donation, please use the PayPal button at the bottom of this page. All donations are gratefully received. |
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