Before you understand your mind and your nature, no matter what method you practice or how hard you work, you will never escape the category of "blind cultivation"! Without realizing the true intention, there is no doubt about practicing the Dharma. Although I work hard, I still have doubts in my mind, and the feeling of uneasiness is unavoidable. This state of uneasiness is the root of life and death, so although the treatment is profound, it is not true practice. Zen Master Puzhao's "Heart Cultivation Technique" says: "Before enlightenment, although you work hard and do not forget to practice, you will still be troubled by doubts, and you will not be able to go without hindrance. It is like having something in your chest, and you will often feel uneasy. Now, as time goes by and the treatment becomes more and more mature, the body and mind will feel as if they are calm and peaceful again, but the roots of doubt are still there, just like stones weighing on grass, and they are still unable to feel at ease in the world of life and death. Before enlightenment, it is not true cultivation.”
But no one can avoid this process of blind cultivation. After opening the bottom of the bucket to understand the true nature of consciousness, return home on the road, follow the fate and practice it, let your luck and luck cultivate concentration and wisdom, be innocent and do nothing, and meditate constantly in movement and stillness. This is the true practice without practice. "The Secret of Cultivation of the Heart" says: "It may be an unfavorable opportunity. After seeing the nature, you will have strong worries and deep habits. If you think about the situation and get emotional, if you encounter the situation, your mind will be confused, or even if you are confused by the situation and the situation, you will not understand the original nature." Although we also resort to various remedies and expedients to eliminate bad habits and remove pollution, it is not without some meritorious practice. However, if we continue to keep it in mind without any hindrance, it will become deeper and deeper over time, and the power will be extremely pure, and it will naturally conform to the innocent and wonderful nature. There is no difference between the practice of silent knowledge and the previous success. "Therefore, those who learn Buddhism must first understand the mind and see the nature, and only after the mind is clear can the habits be eradicated before true cultivation. The reason why Yiyu speaks loudly is that there is no need to follow the rigid and rigid words. The teacher can directly indicate the nature of the mind, so that the disciples can realize it immediately and then start practicing real practice, so as not to lose their time.
It may be said: A person who has a clear mind and a clear nature is a saint. Not only does he no longer need to practice, but he also needs to experience various magical changes, which is very unusual for people. The so-called great power and great use, magical changes are unpredictable. Today Why do you say that enlightenment is true cultivation?
Answer: There are two kinds of mistakes among Taoists today: First, they think that after enlightenment, they will be saints and should have all kinds of magical changes. If it cannot be realized, it means there is no enlightenment, it is just lip service and empty talk about the truth. Because of this, there are many people who have retreated from the heart and fallen into undifferentiated losses. The second is that the sect has no cultivation, no attainment, no certification, and will stop as soon as it is enlightened. Why do you need to practice again? As a result, although you have understood it, your habits remain the same, and as time goes by, you wander around in life and death as before, which is unavoidable in the six paths of reincarnation. This point has been discussed before and does not seem to need to be discussed again. However, since it has a vital bearing on the success or failure of Taoists, and it is also the root cause of the misunderstandings among Taoists today, I will not hesitate to discuss it in detail.
"Cultivation of the Heart" says: "There are many doors to enter the Tao, and the key points are explained. Before you reach enlightenment, you can gradually cultivate two doors." It also says: "This sudden and gradual progression of the two doors is the rule of thousands of saints. The above saints , one must first realize and then practice, because cultivation is the basis for realization, and it does not mean that it is discovered when one is enlightened.”
Zen Master Guifeng said: The whole water is melted by the yang energy. The ordinary person becomes a Buddha, and uses the power of Dharma to cultivate it. When the ice disappears, the water becomes moist, and the power of irrigation and purification is revealed; when the mind is exhausted, the supernatural power of enlightenment can begin. Change cannot be achieved in a day, but can be discovered gradually."
Yangshan said to the crowd: "I am telling you clearly now, don't just follow the sea of ??nature and cultivate it truthfully. , Don't worry about the three enlightenments and the six powers. Why? This is a matter of the end of the sage. Now, as long as you understand the nature, don't worry about the end. If you don't have the ability in the future, you will always learn from him. , it will not be obtained in the end, and it will not be true if it is obtained, and it will become a demon in the future."
From the above quote, we can see that the enlightenment is: when ordinary people are confused, they mistakenly hold on to the four elements as the body and delusional thoughts as the mind. Not knowing that his own nature is the true Dharmakaya, but knowing spiritually that he is the true Buddha, he often looks for the Buddha outside his mind, running around here and there. Suddenly, he is pointed to a place by a good teacher, and with a single thought, the light comes back, and he sees his own nature and recognizes his original mind. And this nature of mind has no troubles, no birth and death, is self-perfected, self-sufficient, and no different from all Buddhas, and there is no hierarchy from ordinary people to Buddha status, so it is called sudden enlightenment.
Although it is a sudden enlightenment, it is on the edge of reason. It is a matter of habit, and it will last for many lives. It will be born and die, and the attachment will be strong and difficult to get rid of. Therefore, one must practice based on enlightenment, gradually eliminate habitual tendencies, and not until the delusion is exhausted can magical powers be revealed. It is by no means that magical powers will appear immediately when the principles are suddenly understood. Therefore, those who practice the Tao must understand the process and identify the sequence. They must not doubt themselves or others because they have not understood it. Thinking that none of them can realize the Tao, they will take a different path and go astray. Even if they go through earthly tribulations, they will not be able to achieve Tao.
Besides, whether it is enlightened or not is not enough to explain whether it is enlightened or not. On the one hand, there are many ways to achieve enlightenment. Some people obtain it through tantric methods, some people obtain it through possession of gods and ghosts, and some people obtain it through cultivation and retribution in previous lives. They are all different. It cannot be said that everyone has enlightened the Tao. Therefore, these magical powers may have something to rely on, but they are not real powers, or they may only be similar powers. Once the physical body is corrupted and loses its support, it will disappear and cease to exist. Between the two, Gude said that there is a difference between enlightenment first and then enlightenment, and enlightenment first and then enlightenment. It cannot be said that enlightenment is the result of enlightenment. For example, when Zen Master Poshan of the Ming Dynasty was practicing Taoism in Tiantong, before he realized enlightenment, he was able to steal the ducks from the local people and perform game samadhi. Later, when the incident happened, Zen Master Miyunwu said: "Although Ziyu has supernatural powers, the Dharma has not yet been dreamed of!" He knelt down on the mountain to ask for enlightenment, and only then did he become enlightened. In modern times, the faculties of sentient beings are even worse, and their habits and obstacles are more serious. If you want to first understand and then realize, there will be only one person among thousands of people. Therefore, after enlightenment, we must practice according to the enlightenment, gradually eliminate our habits, and gradually develop supernatural powers. The above-mentioned ancestors of the past sages are all like this. Therefore, enlightenment and gradual cultivation of the two schools are the norm for Buddhists, and practitioners of all sects should abide by it!
It may be said: Reasons are things, things are reasons, and things are the same. If the truth is suddenly enlightened, the things will correspond. If the things cannot be penetrated and there are still obstacles, how can we say that we have understood the truth!
Answer: Directors are neither the same nor different.
Things are accomplished by reasons, and reasons are manifested by things; reasons are not separated from things, and things are not separated from reasons. This is not inconsistent with reason, so it is not different. However, the truth is formless, and its wonderful functions follow the conditions, responding to all kinds of things. It falsely establishes an empty appearance and is not shapeless. It is said that this has appearance but no appearance, so it is not one. Now that I have enlightened to the Tao, I have clearly realized that my spiritual knowledge of emptiness is the true Buddha. However, I have been deeply affected by the habit of many lives and cannot be eradicated at once. I still have the mind when encountering things. I see the situation is difficult and have no thoughts. But when the mind is moved by thoughts, It's not like a blind person who doesn't know the emptiness of the earthly realm, clings to it, wanders and forgets to return. But when the previous thought is activated, the subsequent thought is immediately felt and cleared up immediately. However, those who are relatively unmotivated will have traces of birth and death, and their strength will be slightly lower. But if you can maintain your responsibilities closely, be aware of them all the time, and develop deeper skills over time, you will be able to become one. The cattle-herding practices of the ancestors of the past dynasties are a model for the practice after enlightenment.