Page 46 - 加拿大佛教会湛山精舍杂志季刊第60期

法脈摭實
HISTORY OF CHAM SHAN

The Foundation Of Meditation Practice I

by Ting Chen

Translated by Dharma Master Lok To

Translator’s Introduction self-nature; also
Originally, one’s own mind and nature are pure, and you will, there-
there is nothing to accept and nothing to refuse; there by, know orig-
is neither existence nor non-existence; there is only inal emptiness.
clear understanding without attachment and with no Do not attempt to
dwelling. One who wants to know the no-attachment, follow the thoughts,
no-dwelling mind can find it through meditation, be- to trace them in any way
cause it is only then that the mind does not think of or have any intention of getting rid of them, and, in
right and wrong, of good and evil or of self and oth- time, awareness will manifest as your mind illumines
ers. a thought. Then, there will suddenly be a stillness that
If this seems obscure, then consider the following: becomes suchness. At some point, another thought
The past is already gone; when you do not think of will arise, and you will observe it in the same way.
it, the thought of the past is gone, too. Then, there is Do this at least once a day, sitting from fifteen min-
no past nor any thought of the past. Furthermore, the utes to an hour. As your concentration deepens, your
future has yet not arrived. If you do not wish for nor thoughts slow down and diminish in number, and
seek after it, the thought regarding the future vanish- your power of illumination increases until you even-
es. Then, there is no future nor any thought about the tually find out that not a single thought arises. Then,
future. Finally, the present is already present. Without there is only stillness and voidness, for then the mind
grasping at it or dwelling upon it and without there is clear and pure. This is your self-nature as known
being any thought about it, the thought of the present directly through wisdom (Prajna).
disappears, and there is no present nor any thought of The subject of wisdom is Prajna, and the opposite of
the present. The mind that does not dwell on anything Prajna is ignorance. Prajna illuminates the delusion
whatsoever is known as the True Mind or Original that is ignorance. With continued exposure to Praj-
Nature. na, ignorance wears away bit by bit until there is a
The non-dwelling mind is the mind of the Buddha, it return to self-nature, or pure mind. It is in this situa-
is the mind of liberation, it is the mind of Bodhi, and it tion that Right Thought manifests. There is no longer
is the mind of non-birth. So, if you really want medi- the duality of subject/object. This state is also known
tation to come about, sit properly erect and close your as no-thought or suchness and is also referred to as
eyes. Then purify your mind, lay down everything the inconceivable. When the mind is illumined and
and think of neither good nor evil. Just observe your a thought, as one ordinarily knows it to be, arises, it
thoughts. As you look for their place of origin, you dissolves instantly. Continue to practice in this way
discover that they suddenly rise up and just as sud- on a daily basis, and you will notice your self-nature
denly disappear, and that this process goes on and getting steadily clearer and purer. Then there will be
on. Be patient and continue to observe them, and you no longer any need to observe, nor will there be any
will, in time, know the thoughts to be devoid of any purpose to observe. Indeed, there will be no longer

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