Chan, like the original Buddha Dharma has no frills and it is not in the least attractive. It promises nothing but hard diligent work and meditation that cannot compare with the traditional meditations which are but band-aids for daily problems.
It has been termed pessimistic, for it looks at the deep problems of the human creature and points to his Suffering as Illusion. Furthermore, Chan even declares that not everyone is suited for the journey.
It certainly does not sell well in the supermarket of Cosmic Consciousness.
That is probably why Modern Chan (and its derivative Zen in its three forms) promises great things, declaring all one has to do is sit, with the mind either empty or filled with koans which are intellectually attractive but equally lacking in content.
The Chan Gate is there for all to see. But it takes a special eye to see the beauty and an open and flexible mind if one wishes to truly enter. One cannot enter with one's mind, no matter how clever one is, for it requires a mind that is open to experiences and flexible enough to let go of traditional ideas.
Look then at: