by Gabriel Parker
Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Puli, Taiwan
Introduction of Chan/Zen Buddhism
The Chan School (Chan zong, 禪宗) is a form of Chinese Buddhism that developed in the sixth century CE and spread to the rest of East Asia. East Asian Buddhism is heavily influenced by the Mahayana tradition and accepts the Mahayana sutras as the highest form of Buddhist thought. Although Buddhism had spread to China and East Asia long before the sixth century CE through the earliest forms of Mahayana sutras, Chan is the most popular and influential form of Buddhism in East Asia. Known in the West by the Japanese term Zen, Chan/Zen is a direct translation meaning ‘meditation’. While the Buddhist path is traditionally presented as ‘the three trainings’ of meditation, morality, and wisdom, Chan Buddhism emphasizes the practice of meditation as the source of all Buddhist practice although the meditation practiced in Chan is not particularly distinct from other forms of Buddhism.
It can be said that Chan is a direct counterclaim to the Western perspective that claims the individual is the basic agent of decision making and concern. Chan’s philosophy is more focused on relationality and nonduality that explores original Buddha-nature than focus on the individual. The method of Chan is to clearly examine ourselves in relational virtuosity as bodhisattvas rather than imitators of those who have come before us. In Chan, freedom rooted in practice is a universal principle.
Outline of Chan Practices
According to the Chan Meditation Center, “the principle of Chan is taking body and mind from a state of confusion and disparity through a condition of one-mind to the experience of no-mind (or no-thought). This is the result of letting go of one’s clinging attachment to the sense of ‘I,’ and to the illusion of the permanence of the self and phenomena.” This progression of Chan Buddhism is achieved through multiple forms of meditation including practice with koans, Buddha chanting, repentance, prostration, praying, and Sutra recitation but begins with an understanding of seated meditation. Seated meditation is a physically and spiritually healthy practice that promotes mental balance and allows for the realization of spiritual wisdom. In Chan Buddhism seated meditation involves adjusting body posture to be still, soft, balanced, and nonstrenuous, adjusting the breath to be even and smooth, and concentrating the mind on its nature. (This practice is exhaustively taught and examined across Buddhist circles and is far easier in explanation than practice.)
In Chan Buddhism, it takes more than just seated meditation to progress through the stages of confusion, one-mind, and no-mind. However, unlike other forms of Buddhism, in Chan Buddhism anyone can become enlightened at any time. “Many Ch’an practitioners ask questions about the Dharma. The Dharma that is spoken is not the true Dharma. As soon as you try to explain things, the true meaning is lost. When you realize that ‘one mind’ is the Buddha, from that point on there is nothing more to do. Everything is already complete. All talk about practice or attainment is demonic deception” (Chan Meditation Center).
It makes sense that Chan is the most popular form of “convert Buddhism” in the West as it does not require a major amount of restrictive measures or educational processes to achieve the highest summits of spiritual enlightenment. Rather, “dispelling ignorance of our own Buddha-nature does not involve cultivating or acquiring anything; we need only end the relational paralysis that prevents us from conducting ourselves as enlightening beings (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).”
Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston, Texas
Chung Tai Zen Center is a Chan Buddhist Meditation Center for both convert and immigrant Buddhists in Houston, Texas. They have a racially diverse congregate that reflects the city of Houston and seems to be made up of both convert and immigrant western Buddhists. The Chung Tai Zen Center is one of over 100 branches of the Chung Tai World organization (discussed below).
“When learning to realize the equanimity and suchness of the Chan mind, one learns to handle problems and difficulties in life in accordance with Reality and with the transcendence of the Middle Way. As a result, one comes to understand that Chan is deeply rooted in daily life, and indeed Chan is the essence of life; Chan is everything and everything is Chan” (Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston).
Typically, the Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston holds three different levels of meditation classes with one hour of guided meditation followed by one hour of Zen Buddhist teaching. Classes start every four months and include studies of Sutras and other general Buddhist topics. Additionally, the center has shorter meditation workshops that are open to the public, half-day meditation retreats once a month, and Buddhist services including ceremonies for repentance, memorial, Lunar New Year, and even birthdays.
Every August, members of the Houston Zen Center visit the Chung Tai World Museum and Monastery in Taiwan, connecting with the massive international community of Chung Tai Zen Buddhists.
When it is in operation, it is clear that the Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston fills an important role in its community. They have consistent programming and an excited, committed congregation that has supported them for over 15 years.
Grand Master and Founding Abbot Grand Master Wei Chueh
The Venerable Master Wei Chueh was born in 1928 in Ying Shan, Sichuan Province of China. As a child, he was educated in Buddhism as well as the Confucian canon. He was ordained in Keelung, Taiwan under Master Lin Yuan in 1963. Even when compared to other monks, the Venerable Wei Chueh was devoted and intentional in his practice, going into the secluded mountains in northern Taiwan for over ten years to further his understanding of Chan. Because of his appeal and wisdom as an eloquent Buddhist master, his followers requested that he end his mountain retreat to spread the Dharma.
Throughout his life, the Venerable Master Wei Chueh held Dharma lectures internationally and is acclaimed for his writings in the form of Koans (below).
The Cypress Tree
Once, in a discussion session on the Shurangama Sutra at the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute, a monk brought up a famous Chinese koan.
A monk asked Chan Master Zhaozhou, “What is the essence of the Dharma?” The Chan Master replied, “The cypress tree in front of the courtyard.”
The disciple asked, “But Shifu, I don’t understand, why is the essence of the Dharma the cypress tree in front of the courtyard?” All the disciples held their breaths in anticipation.
The Master firmly responded, “It indeed is the cypress tree in front of the courtyard.”
Don’t Wait Until Next Life
A monk who had encountered an obstacle in his practice became doubtful as to whether or not he could complete the Path in this lifetime. He, therefore, asked the Master, “Shifu, in my next life……”
Before he could finish his question, the Master immediately chided him, “Next life? In Zen practice, one extends this present mind to an eon, and an eon exists in this present mind. In this very lifetime, liberate yourself from the cycle of life and death!”
Chung Tai World
In 1987, Master Wei Chueh built Ling Quan Chan Monastery where he previously practiced in solitude. This allowed the Master to hold large scale meditations that were unheard of in Taiwanese Buddhist communities at the time. Since 1991, hundreds of these massive Chan retreats have been conducted internationally.
After traveling the world multiple times to spread the Dharma, in 2001 Master Wei Chueh led the inauguration of Chung Tai Chan Monastery, ushering in a new era of Chung Tai and spreading Chan worldwide. Before his passing in 2016, Master Wei Chueh held his last Dharma ceremony and inaugurated the Chung Tai World Museum (pictured below).
It is hard to overstate the influence that Chung Tai World has had on Chan Buddhism internationally. In addition to the schools, museums, and residential monastic institutes, Chung Tai World has 108 monasteries and meditation centers all around the world.
In 2005, Grand Master Wei Cheuh passed on abbot responsibility to the second and current abbot, the Venerable Master Jiandeng (pictured below) who was ordained under the Grand Master in 1991. Jiandeng led the construction of Pu Tai Senior High School and helped with the construction of the Chung Tai World Museum.
Chung Tai’s main building mimics the shape of a seated meditator.
The Chung Tai Tradition 
Chung Tai Chan Monastery
The Chung Tai is guided by the principles of “The Three Links of Cultivation,” “The Four Tenets of Chung Tai,” and ” The Five Directions of Spreading Buddhism.”
The Three Links of Cultivation: Integrate Spiritual Practice
In the tradition of Chung Tai, the disciplines of service, scripture studies, and meditation work together to ensure progression on the path to Buddhahood.
The Four Tenets of Chung Tai
To our elders be respectful: Overcome arrogance with respect
To our juniors be kind: Counteract anger with kindness
With all humanity be harmonious: Dissolve violence with harmony
In all endeavors be true: Eradicate deceit with truthfulness
The Five Directions of Spreading Buddhism: Bring Buddhism into the New Century
“Connect Buddhism with academia, education, art, science, and daily living to enable people from all walks to explore and discover the purifying benefits of Buddhism (Chung Tai World).”
Current Operations
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Chung Tai Zen Center in Houston has momentarily paused all of its operations. They have events planned in the far future but were difficult to get in contact with currently.
Sources:
https://www.cthouston.org/site/what-is-chan/
https://www.ctworld.org.tw/english-96/html/index.htm
https://chancenter.org/en/home
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddhism-chan/#Int
https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/slideshows/the-10-most-racially-diverse-big-cities-in-the-the-us?slide=11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chung_Tai_Chan_Monastery
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/chung-tai-zen-center-of-houston-houston?select=1f_UGK153C4D3Io1MXoiYQ
https://www.facebook.com/ctzenhouston/
http://oceanskyzen.org/wp/?page_id=439