Reddit reviews The Method of No-Method: The Chan Practice of Silent Illumination

I am only aware of the following:

PoI maps

- Mahasi Sayadaw's Progress of Insight maps

- Mahasi Sayadaw's maps from Chapter 6 of the Manual of Insight

- U Pandita's maps from In this very life appendices

- Daniel Ingram's MCTB maps

- Kenneth Folk's maps from Contemplative fitness

- Ron Crouch's maps from Aloha Dharma

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Silent Illumination (Chan) maps

- Sheng Yen refers to 4 different stages of practice in his book The method of no-method.

It's not as analytical as PoI maps, but it's helpful for Chan/Soto Zen practitioners as it's the only "maps" I am aware of regarding Shikantaza practice.

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Pristine Mind (Dzogchen) maps

Part Five of Our Pristine Mind by Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche, refers to 4 stages of awakening

I haven't read it so I have no Idea this part of the book is useful or not.

Master Sheng Yen was a master of both the Caodong and Linji lineages. He wrote some books that are actually transcriptions, more or less, of retreats he led.

One book that I have listed in our wiki is "The Method of No-Method". I personally do like this book. For the most part, as I understand it, the schools of Chan aren't as different as the schools of Zen. They share practices and whatnot as well. I also wholly recommend Essential Chan Buddhism and Attaining the Way, also by Sheng Yen, seems to be a hit as well, but I've not read it yet.

Unfortunately, my knowledge of hummingbirds is limited to the fact that they are adorable and flap their wings really fast.

I hope you get much better. Namo Amituofo.

Try this one https://www.amazon.com/Method-No-Method-Practice-Silent-Illumination/dp/1590305752

If you are interested in the Zazen (Shikantaza or Silent Illumination) I really would reccommend reading "The Method of No Method" by Master Shengyen, it's probably the most detailed guide on that style of meditation you'll find in English.

https://www.amazon.com/Method-No-Method-Practice-Silent-Illumination/dp/1590305752

From personal experience I sat half lotus for a year before I started stretching before meditation and found I could sit full lotus without much discomfort and the posture certainly improved my meditation. If you can't just do half lotus alternating feet once in a while and always stretch before meditating.

Keep eyes two thirds closed and pointing to the floor in front or the nose. This helps keep eyes moist so you don't need to blink too much or get distracted by what you see. Also, having eyes slightly open stops long distracting thought trains or daydreaming that often occurs when eyes are closed.