從「虛空粉碎」論聖嚴禪法與泰國森林傳統的「開悟經驗」=A discussion on the Enlightening Experience of Sheng Yen's Chan and Thai Forest Meditation Tradition, in term of "The Space Shattering"
虛空粉碎=The Space Shattering; 聖嚴禪法=Sheng Yen's Chen Teaching; 泰國森林傳統=Thai Forest Meditation; 開悟=Enlightenment; 明心見性=Understand the Mind and See the Nature
"Enlightenment", should be the ultimate goal of every practitioner in Buddhism. However, it seems that the Chinese Chan patriarchs have never given a clear definition and explanation of "Enlightenment". On the other hand, Tien-tai School has very clear explanation for it. Nevertheless, I found that Master Sheng Yen (1931-2009) is a special example. There are two special point: (1) as the founder of Chinese Chan Dharma Drum sect, different from the other Chan masters in the past, Master Sheng Yen put forward a detailed explanation of "Enlightenment"；(2)His explanation to. Master Sheng Yen subdivided the "state of enlightenment" into several levels, and among them, he used the highest state called "the space shattering"(虛空粉碎) to express the real "enlightenment". This leads me to the question: what does "the space shattering" refer to? In this article, I would examine further its origins and application, and try to clarify master Sheng Yen's explanation. In addition, in contemporary Thai forest tradition, there are also meditation teachers using terminology similar to "the space shattering" to describe their enlightening experience. This leads to another question: why are Sheng Yen's Chan teaching of Chinese Buddhism (emphasis on sudden enlightenment) and the Thai forest meditation tradition of similar term for "enlightenment"? Could it be said that "different routes lead to the same goal"? This paper attempts to clarify the interpretation of "the space shattering" by the meditation teachers under Thai forest tradition, and make a general comparison with Master Sheng Yen's view, in order to clarify their similarities and differences.
