In this episode of the Spark Zen podcast, Rev. Shōren Heather engages with Chan Buddhist teacher Rebecca Li about her book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No Method. Rebecca recounts her journey to Chan meditation, beginning in graduate school and leading her to practice with the contemporary Chan Master Sheng Yen. Rebecca explains how understanding and practicing “silent illumination” can help us unlearn entrenched habits of suffering and open our hearts to see the humanity in ourselves and others.
Through personal anecdotes and philosophical discussions, Rebecca and Rev. Shōren Heather explore
the nature of meditation and the importance of present moment mindfulness,
the different modes of mental afflictions such as craving and aversion,
the pitfalls of intellectualizing spiritual practice,
and how individual peace and clarity contribute to a more compassionate and less suffering world.
Rebecca Li, PhD, is a meditation and Dharma teacher in the lineage of Chan Master Sheng Yen and founder and guiding teacher of Chan Dharma Community. She gives Dharma talks and leads Chan retreats in North America and Europe. She is also a sociology professor and lives with her husband in New Jersey. She’s the author of two books: Allow Joy Into Our Hearts and Illumination: The Buddhist Method of No Method. Her talks, writings, and schedule can be found at rebeccali.org.
