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'Silent and serene, forgetting words, bright clarity appears before you. When you reflect it you become vast, where you embody it you are spiritually uplifted.'
-Zen master Hongzhi, Guidepost of Silent Illumination. |
What is Silent Illumination?
One of Zen's most iconic practices, Silent Illumination goes by many names: just sitting, shikantaza, resting in the Unborn, open awareness, non-meditation, the method of no-method. Personally, I first learnt the technique by the name Silent Illumination, and so that's how I tend to think of it.
Silent Illumination is simultaneously extremely simple and extremely challenging to figure out. The essence of the practice is to sit and simply be aware - not doing anything, not focusing on anything in particular, not trying to cultivate anything, not trying to examine anything; but at the same time, not 'zoning out', drifting off or falling asleep.
On one level, the silent part represents the non-doing aspect of the practice. On another level, it represents the fundamental nature of the mind, which is utterly unmoving, utterly indestructible, utterly unaffected by whatever comes and goes in our experience. It is a silence which can encompass anything and everything, and yet remain unchanged.
Likewise, on one level the illumination part represents the awareness aspect of the practice - we must be clearly aware, with a mind that is bright and lucid rather than half-asleep and dull. On another level, it represents the moment-to-moment functioning of the mind, which is that of profound clarity and wakefulness - an immediate, effortless illumination of whatever comes into our experience.
And so we 'just sit' - but we sit in bright clarity, fully aware of each moment of our experience, totally present for whatever arises.
How to practise Silent Illumination
The simplest instruction for this practice is also one of its names - 'just sitting'. But unless you're experienced in the practice already, this can be a bewildering and maddening instruction to be given, especially if that's the only instruction you get! Personally, I like to follow the formulation developed by the Chinese Zen master Sheng-Yen, and described with tremendous clarity by his successor Guo Gu in his book appropriately titled Silent Illumination.
To begin, set yourself up in a comfortable sitting posture. Then, progressively relax the body, starting at the head and moving slowly down the body, letting go of any tension you encounter. Feel free to do this two or more times if you are continuing to release tension each time. As the body relaxes, it moves into the stillness that is characteristic of Silent Illumination.
Then, bring your attention to the experience of sitting. What that instruction means for you will change over time. At first, it can be helpful to pay attention to the physical sensations associated with sitting. Having a specific, concrete focus like this can be a much easier way into the practice than simply sitting with no method at all. However, remember always that it is just a method, and one which you will ultimately let go of. In time, your awareness will naturally expand to take in not just your body but also your surroundings, and your experience of sitting will become one of the whole environment. Later, you will go even beyond that, dropping any distinction between inner and outer, self and other. Ultimately, your experience becomes precisely the tranquil stillness and effortless functioning of the mind itself - the simple, immediate, direct expression of your Buddha Nature.
You can find two guided open awareness practices on my Audio page, one 10 minutes, the other 25. Notice, however, that the guidance in those practices is still describing a kind of method - a way of focusing the attention, a way of dealing with distractions, a way of using the mind somehow. True Silent Illumination is beyond any method; it is simply a resting in your true nature, experiencing the unfolding moment.
Clear as mud?
Further instructions
You can read more about this practice, including Sheng-Yen's staged approach to practice, in my article entitled The Method of No-Method.
Alternatively, detailed instructions for Silent Illumination, together with a whole host of other exercises which can greatly deepen and enhance a Silent Illumination practice, can be found in my book Resting in the Unborn. Check it out!
Finally, you can find two guided Silent Illumination practices on my Audio page. The one titled 'Silent Illumination (with preliminaries)' is a more gradual practice, whereas the one titled 'Resting in the Unborn' is a more streamlined practice that points directly to the final step of what's presented in my book. Both are worthwhile approaches. Try them and see what works for you!
One of Zen's most iconic practices, Silent Illumination goes by many names: just sitting, shikantaza, resting in the Unborn, open awareness, non-meditation, the method of no-method. Personally, I first learnt the technique by the name Silent Illumination, and so that's how I tend to think of it.
Silent Illumination is simultaneously extremely simple and extremely challenging to figure out. The essence of the practice is to sit and simply be aware - not doing anything, not focusing on anything in particular, not trying to cultivate anything, not trying to examine anything; but at the same time, not 'zoning out', drifting off or falling asleep.
On one level, the silent part represents the non-doing aspect of the practice. On another level, it represents the fundamental nature of the mind, which is utterly unmoving, utterly indestructible, utterly unaffected by whatever comes and goes in our experience. It is a silence which can encompass anything and everything, and yet remain unchanged.
Likewise, on one level the illumination part represents the awareness aspect of the practice - we must be clearly aware, with a mind that is bright and lucid rather than half-asleep and dull. On another level, it represents the moment-to-moment functioning of the mind, which is that of profound clarity and wakefulness - an immediate, effortless illumination of whatever comes into our experience.
And so we 'just sit' - but we sit in bright clarity, fully aware of each moment of our experience, totally present for whatever arises.
How to practise Silent Illumination
The simplest instruction for this practice is also one of its names - 'just sitting'. But unless you're experienced in the practice already, this can be a bewildering and maddening instruction to be given, especially if that's the only instruction you get! Personally, I like to follow the formulation developed by the Chinese Zen master Sheng-Yen, and described with tremendous clarity by his successor Guo Gu in his book appropriately titled Silent Illumination.
To begin, set yourself up in a comfortable sitting posture. Then, progressively relax the body, starting at the head and moving slowly down the body, letting go of any tension you encounter. Feel free to do this two or more times if you are continuing to release tension each time. As the body relaxes, it moves into the stillness that is characteristic of Silent Illumination.
Then, bring your attention to the experience of sitting. What that instruction means for you will change over time. At first, it can be helpful to pay attention to the physical sensations associated with sitting. Having a specific, concrete focus like this can be a much easier way into the practice than simply sitting with no method at all. However, remember always that it is just a method, and one which you will ultimately let go of. In time, your awareness will naturally expand to take in not just your body but also your surroundings, and your experience of sitting will become one of the whole environment. Later, you will go even beyond that, dropping any distinction between inner and outer, self and other. Ultimately, your experience becomes precisely the tranquil stillness and effortless functioning of the mind itself - the simple, immediate, direct expression of your Buddha Nature.
You can find two guided open awareness practices on my Audio page, one 10 minutes, the other 25. Notice, however, that the guidance in those practices is still describing a kind of method - a way of focusing the attention, a way of dealing with distractions, a way of using the mind somehow. True Silent Illumination is beyond any method; it is simply a resting in your true nature, experiencing the unfolding moment.
Clear as mud?
Further instructions
You can read more about this practice, including Sheng-Yen's staged approach to practice, in my article entitled The Method of No-Method.
Alternatively, detailed instructions for Silent Illumination, together with a whole host of other exercises which can greatly deepen and enhance a Silent Illumination practice, can be found in my book Resting in the Unborn. Check it out!
Finally, you can find two guided Silent Illumination practices on my Audio page. The one titled 'Silent Illumination (with preliminaries)' is a more gradual practice, whereas the one titled 'Resting in the Unborn' is a more streamlined practice that points directly to the final step of what's presented in my book. Both are worthwhile approaches. Try them and see what works for you!