Seven-day Retreat Talk (Day 2)

Morning Talk November 29, 1992 

In Ch'an, there are three principles of practice. I talked about the first, in part, yesterday. Being neat, orderly, peaceful and harmonious are daily behaviors. This, along with other guidelines, fall under the principle of living in accordance with precepts. The second principle is samadhi, which can be expanded to include meditative methods. How do we use methods to stabilize the mind? Past patriarchs have said that samadhi is none other than the mind. It follows, then, that cultivation of samadhi through meditation methods will lead to a clear, stable mind. It is generally accepted that the cultivation of samadhi leads to the generation of wisdom, the third principle. Other spiritual disciplines view wisdom in a different light. Their levels of deep meditative absorption (samadhi) lead to greater intelligence, insight, mental stability, but not liberation. The wisdom that Buddhism speaks of refers directly to enlightenment and liberation. In the Platform Sutra, the Sixth Patriarch says that samadhi is wisdom and wisdom is samadhi. When samadhi accords perfectly with wisdom, this is Ch'an. Wisdom is the fulfillment of the complementary relationship between principle (theory) and practice. The essential theory states that there is no true self because nothing is permanent. Yesterday I described the method of watching the breath. This, in fact, is contemplating impermanence. Breath, body movements, numbers, all continuously change from moment to moment. During sitting meditation, it is equally important to contemplate the impermanence of wandering thoughts. Thoughts, as much as anything else, continuously arise and perish. The idea of self is generated by thoughts, or rather, from attachment to these thoughts. Once we experience and realize the ephemeral nature of these thoughts, we also experience the ephemeral nature of the self. Thoughts have no independent, external existence, and neither does the self that identifies with them. The experience of impermanence is of paramount important in one's practice. Practitioners of outer paths interpret samadhi as non-movement of the mind. They do not realize that even in non-movement there is still one thought. Although they remain fixed on this one thought, it still subtly and continuously moves. When thought remains, even one thought, there still exists the idea of self. There are still attachments. If the mind were truly unmoving, there would be no self. Ch'an believes that it is more important to recognize and experience impermanence than to try to halt the thinking process. If we can maintain an awareness of the impermenence of thoughts, we will see there is no self that attaches to these thoughts. We will be able to directly perceive each thought as selflessness. This itself is wisdom. Liberation, according to Ch'an, comes through an understanding of the concept of impermanence, followed by direct experience of this impermanence. In order to experience liberation, we must first follow the precepts (the principles I outlined yesterday) and practice a method diligently. We must practice with an understanding of wisdom, so that we can experience it directly. This is the wisdom of liberation. This is sudden enlightenment. 

Breakfast Talk 

Although I can't provide you with the experience of enlightenment, I can offer you advice. If you put this advice to use, it may help your practice. It is you who must do the work and follow the Path. I just give guidance and direction. Two problems plague practitioners: drowsiness and scattered mind. Drowsiness afflicts everyone -- beginners, advanced practitioners, even masters. Today, however, I want to address scattered mind. Scattered mind, or the inability to concentrate on a method because of the intrusion of wandering thoughts, is caused by an improper understanding of how to use the method. Other contributing factors are mental fatigue and idleness. When scattered mind frequently occurs, the first thing to do is relax your body and mind. In other words, temporarily rest. Consciously put the method aside and take a break. If idleness is the root of your problem, you won't even realize that you have left the method. You'll be completely immersed in your wandering thoughts. To be effective in your practice, it is important to will yourself to return to the method once you realize you've left it. There are three levels of practice. The first is called "taking it up," and it means to return to the method over and over again. The second is contemplation, which means to be smoothly and continuously on a method of practice. The third level manifests when contemplation is uninterrupted. This is illumination. Illumination is the clear awareness that you are on the method. Of the three, illumination is most important. When you are working smoothly on all three levels, you are truly using the method correctly. During such times, speaking of scattered mind is irrelevant. There will be no scatteredness. It will also help you to overcome drowsiness. Sometimes, however, the best thing to do is rest. So, at this point, most of you should be concerned with the first level of practicing a method, namely taking it up. Don't be swayed by tempting thoughts. Continuously bring yourself back to the method.