---
title: The Chan Hand book
---
1. [The Chan Hand book - Contents](110008)
2. [The Chan Hand book - Preface](110007)
3. [1. Why Investigate Chan?](110006)
4. [Freedom over birth and death is freedom to come and go](110005)
5. [The great functioning of the entire substance is clearly understood](110004)
6. [By investigating Chan and sitting in meditation, we can gain enlightenment](110003)
7. [We want to learn how not to be attached to self and others](110002)
8. [Meditation and samadhi are vital to our Dharma-body](110001)
9. [Sitting long brings Chan, which cleanses and purifies the mind](110000)
10. [2. What is Chan?](109999)
11. [Twirling a flower, the Buddha revealed the mind-to-mind seal](109998)
12. [Only quiet contemplation can initiate Chan](109997)
13. [Thought cultivation eliminates false thinking](109996)
14. [Silencing the mind reveals our wisdom](109995)
15. [The flavor of lightness and ease is infinitely wonderful](109994)
16. [3. Ten Benefits of Chan](109993)
17. [4a. How to Investigate Chan,Sitting Meditation](109992)
18. [Full-lotus posture makes it easy to enter samadhi.](109991)
19. [Once your legs no longer ache, you have really begun investigating Chan.](109990)
20. [Sit straight without leaning.](109989)
21. [Sweet dew cures many illnesses.](109988)
22. [Mouth contemplates heart.](109987)
23. [Heat, Summit, Patience,First in the World](109986)
24. [Subduing guest-dust afflictions is like letting muddy water settle.](109985)
25. [Investigate Chan while walking, standing, sitting and reclining.](109984)
26. [Concentrate! Persevere!](109983)
27. [Sit like a big bell.Walk like a light breeze.](109982)
28. [As skill increases, afflictions decrease.](109981)
29. [Sitting in meditation is like unraveling a silken cocoon.](109980)
30. [Sit perfectly still.](109979)
31. [4b. How to Investigate Chan,the Meditation Topic](109978)
32. [Go with care. Avoid demonic possession.](109977)
33. [Concentrate on a single meditation topic.](109976)
34. [Let not a single thought arise](109975)
35. [Be as a dragon is when guarding its pearl](109974)
36. [Our meditation topic works like the Headband-tightening Mantra.](109973)
37. [If you are apart from this, you have gone amiss.](109972)
38. [Sweep away all dharmas.Separate from all marks.](109971)
39. [Contemplate at ease to find wisdom](109970)
40. [When we gain the One, all things are done](109969)
41. [5. The States of Chan](109968)
42. [Merging with the great void, we have a sudden breakthrough](109967)
43. [When sitting in meditation, do not seek for spiritual penetrations](109966)
44. [Demonic power causes you to think of retreating](109965)
45. [States may be false or true](109964)
46. [As soon as you cultivate the spiritual path, demons will appear](109963)
47. [If we awaken to what we see, we can transcend the mundane world](109962)
48. [With samadhi power, we need not fear demons](109961)
49. [By neither hurrying nor slacking off, we will succeed](109960)
50. [Do not be moved by sounds](109959)
51. [Do not harbor thoughts of hatred and love](109958)
52. [No matter what happens, remain in unmoving suchness](109957)
53. [6. The Koans of Chan](109956)
54. [Seeking a method to avoid death.](109955)
55. [Enlightenment must be certified before it counts](109954)
56. [How Chan meditation can halt the process of birth and death](109953)
57. [The mind of Elder Master Wei Shan did not move](109952)
58. [An old monk in meditation is worth ten thousand taels of gold](109951)
59. [Do not be attached to states](109950)
60. [Chan Meditation – It is Hard! It is Easy!](109949)
61. [Neither coming nor going](109948)
62. [The Three Cart Patriarch](109947)
63. [Cast aside birth and death](109946)
64. [7. Questions and Answers on Chan](109945)
65. [8. Verses on Chan and Chan Potential](109944)
66. [Wonderful Truth In Us All](109943)
67. [Topple Mount Sumeru](109942)
68. [An Intensive Course](109941)
69. [Return of Spring](109940)
70. [Self-portrait of Hsuan Hua Sitting in Chan](109939)
71. [Playing a Flute Without Holes](109938)
72. [Walk with Me](109937)
73. [Vajra Seed to Bodhi Sprout](109936)
74. [Who will there be?](109935)