Appendix I: The Elder Master's Instructions: “Six Essential Points of Practice”

First: Let go of everything and practice with utter resolve. What use is there in clinging to worldly things and being unable to let them go? All things in this world arise through causes and conditions; they have no substantial reality. Like clouds and smoke passing before the eyes, they are empty and unreal: they cannot be obtained or taken away.

Even your own bodies are only provisionally existent; they cannot be retained and are unobtainable. One can readily understand, then, what is true of things outside the body. Thus, taking things to be real and clinging tightly to them is foolishness not worthy of a discerning person's smile. Studying Buddhism and cultivating the Way is the work of great wisdom for great persons, not something that those of limited capacity and wisdom can undertake.

To realize the Way, one must first see through everything. Only by sitting in meditation with utter resolve can one enter samādhi and awaken. If, while sitting, you think this and think that, with deluded thoughts flying about in confusion, then all is lost. You must let go of everything and be like a dead person.

Second: In sitting meditation and mantra recitation, let the mind recite and the ears listen. This is the essential instruction for cultivating heart esotericism, and it is of great importance for entering samādhi and awakening. Therefore, I repeatedly remind you all to put it into practice without the slightest compromise. People are accustomed to stirring deluded thoughts. Unless you listen single-mindedly to the inner sound of mantra recitation and gather in the mind faculty, deluded thoughts cannot cease. If deluded thoughts do not cease, how can one enter samādhi or awaken? Therefore, the mind must recite and the ears must listen: recite each word from the mind, and hear it distinctly with the ears. Only then can you gather in the mind faculty, prevent deluded thoughts from arising, and gradually enter samādhi.

Third: The moment a thought arises, be aware of it; neither suppress nor follow it. When a thought comes, you must be able to see it. If you cannot see it, you will follow it along. Once you follow thoughts, deluded thoughts will fly about in profusion, and you will be unable to enter samādhi. Therefore, the moment a thought arises, be aware of it. Neither wander after it nor suppress it and make it not arise. Simply disregard it, bring forth right mindfulness, and recite the mantra one-pointedly. Deluded thoughts will naturally dissolve, and you will peacefully enter samādhi.

Fourth: Sit at regular times, neither hurriedly nor sluggishly. Sit in meditation at regular times each day. Once this becomes a habit, it will be easier to enter samādhi. It is best to meditate in the morning, and better still at dawn. When sitting, do not be impatient to enter samādhi. Calmly take your seat with ordinary mind, and recite the mantra composedly, neither hurriedly nor sluggishly. Do not seek to enter samādhi or awaken, much less vainly seek spiritual powers. A single thought of seeking samādhi, awakening, or the manifestation of spiritual powers is itself a deluded mind. Once this mind arises, it obstructs the gate to one's own awakening. Not only will one fail to awaken, but one will also be unable to enter samādhi.

Fifth: After rising from meditation, maintain continuous and seamless contemplation. Extend the settled practice of meditation into the activities of daily life. In walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, quietly apply it for yourself. Maintain continuous and seamless contemplation, abiding nowhere: neither let circumstances pull you along nor wander after deluded thoughts.

Sixth: Have a vast mind-capacity and accommodate everything. A practitioner of the Way must not have a narrow mind-capacity, but should be magnanimous and accommodate everything. Even if others treat me poorly, I should treat them still better, without the slightest notions of attachment or aversion, delight or dislike. According to circumstances and one's means, perform every good deed. At all times and in all places, be untroubled and at ease, without a mind of gain and loss or thoughts of praise and blame, success and failure. This is the greatest spiritual power.

Remember these six points and cultivate accordingly. You will certainly uncover your original nature and directly realize Buddha-nature. Fulfill these six points without the slightest slackening, and you are assured of fully realizing bodhi and attaining great accomplishment.