The subjects for Regular Training that are required for those practicing the Law are: Chanting the Name of Buddha, Sitting Meditation in the Lotus Position, the Study of the Scriptures, Giving Lectures, Discussions, Training in Abstruse Questions, the Principle of the Original Nature, the Keeping of a Diary for a Fixed Term, a Daily Diary, Carefulness, and Deportment. Chanting the Name of Buddha and Sitting Meditation are the training courses for the Cultivating of Spiritual Stability; the Study of the Scriptures, the Giving of Lectures, Discussions, Training in Abstruse Questions, the Principle of the Original Nature, and the Diary for a Fixed Term are the training courses for the Study of Facts and Principles; the Daily Diary, Carefulness and Deportment are the training courses for the Selection of Right Conduct.
Chanting the Name of Buddha is one of the fixed phrases of incantation which is to be chanted repeatedly. This is to concentrate one's scattered and disturbed spirit on the phrase itself, so that one may keep one's concentrated and undisturbed spirit from numerous disturbances.
When one practices Sitting Meditation,
one concentrates one's mind on the lower abdomen and makes the lower abdomen
the center for the control of bodily energy so as to keep the mind from being
scattered, such that one abandons even the idea of concentration, allowing one
to stay in a real state of perfect tranquility and no differentiation. This
is a method for fostering one's pure and original spirit.
One studies the assigned scriptures
of Won Buddhism and, for reference, some other scriptures. This aims at helping
those who are practicing the Law to know the way of training.
Those who are practicing the training in the Giving of Lectures are to expound the meaning of an appointed subject from Facts and Principles. This aims at the training in wisdom by means of exchanging ideas and knowledge, formally and in public.
Taking part in Discussions, one
will express freely the impressions one has received from one's hearing or seeing
something. This is to discipline the wisdom of those practicing the Law, through
a free exchange of opinion.
By training in Abstruse Questions,
those practicing the Law are tested on their understanding of the Principles
of Absolute Unity and its Components, Being and Non-being, Facts of Right and
Wrong, Advantage and Disadvantage, and Abstruse Questions among some of the
Kung-An expressed by patriarchs and Buddhas. This, in the advanced stage
of training in wisdom, enables those practicing the Law to
By studying the Principle of the
Original Nature, one is able to solve and understand the original principles
of all beings in the universe, and the principle of our own Original Nature.
When keeping a Diary for a Fixed
Term, one is to record the hours of one's daily work, one's income and expenditure,
the control and function of mind and body, one's awakening and one's feelings.
When keeping a Daily Diary one is
to record the number of times one has been careful or careless when handling
various matters, how one has learned, and whether one has kept or violated the
Precepts.
Carefulness means being conscious
not to forget to practice both what one is resolved to do and what one is resolved
not to do when one's Six Roots are functioning.
Deportment, meaning the conduct required of one, renders those practicing the Law able to check their training from time to time so that they may reap the effect of their training in actual situations.
In order to let those practicing the Law carry out constant moral practice, 'The Items for Constant Application' and 'The Items to be Noted at a Temple of Won Buddhism' are assigned.
1.The Items for Constant Application
(1)Be careful to select right and
abandon wrong, with integrated prudence, in dealing with all matters.
(2)Be careful to train yourself
to observe the circumstances of the situation before dealing with all matters.
(3)Be careful to practice the scriptures
and regulations when you have leisure time.
(4)Be Careful to practice Abstruse
Questions when the practice of the scriptures and codes is generally completed.
(5)Be careful to practice Chanting
the Name of Buddha and Sitting Meditation at dawn as well as after completing
one's work and before going to bed at night, in order to cultivate spiritual
stability.
(6)Be careful to check whether or not you have practiced what you resolved to do and what you resolved not to do.
2.The Items to be Noted at a Temple of Won Buddhism
(1)Be careful to ask about matters
previously dealt with, while you are training yourselves in the 'The Items for
Constant Application' whenever you come to a Temple of Won Buddhism.
(2)Be careful, if you experience
something that has awakened you, to report it to your teachers and be prepared
to be examined on it by your teacher.
(3)Be careful to present to your
teacher what is doubtful to you so that you may have it understood by your teacher.
(4)Be careful to prepare for expenses,
so that you may attend the intensive regular training sessions every year for
regular training in doctrine and meditation.
(5)Be careful to come to a Temple
of Won Buddhism on the days for Regular Dharma Meetings and concentrate your
mind only on the study and have all necessary affairs settled before those days.
(6)Be careful to faithfully utilize in your practical life what you have been awakened to, and what you have resolved after the Regular Dharma Meeting.
With regard to the relationship between Regular Training and Constant Training; Regular Training, the main subjects of which are Cultivation of Spiritual Stability and the Study of Facts and Principles, prepares the materials necessary for Constant Training; Constant Training, the main subject of which is the Selection of Right Conduct, is training in motion and is the training method required to prepare the materials for training in quietness. These two ways of training help each other and become the basis for each other, so that both devoted and lay followers will not leave the training for even a minute.