Ch'an songs
Author:Bella

Master Geng-Yun said that singing Ch’an songs is equivalent to Ch’an practice.  He interpreted the essence of Ch’an by means of modern language and words, and meanwhile personally composed Ch’an songs.

His spirit affected the renowned musician, You-Di Huang, to compose Ch’an songs for the affiliated public?  As the lyrics of Ch’an songs were adapted from Buddhist Sutras or Master Geng-Yun’s lectures, which both described the mental states of the enlightened saints.  In addition, its melody is spiritual, soothing, and very easy to learn.  While singing them, people can feel the true reality of An-Hsiang and become fully aware of one’s consciousness, and simultaneously, their minds have been advanced and purified through this process.

Thanks to Andrea for teaching us how to sing these Ch’an songs.  She said Ch’an practice can relieve oneself from the pain generated from one’s own and others’ mistakes, to eventually attain a unified and harmonious mind. She soothes her suffering mind by singing Ch’an songs, reading sutras and repenting constantly, as Master Geng-Yun reminded us of the Buddha’s teaching that “even the most horrible sin cannot resist the act of repentance.”

The song we learned today is “Cause and Effect”.

“What you are today tells you how you behaved in the previous life; and what you will be in your next life depends on how you behave in this life.”

Indeed, to believe in the law of causality, and to cherish every opportunity one has to rectify the false causes, one will surely attain An-Hsiang without feeling any regrets or shame.