The basic rule in Chan meditation is: “Let your eyes contemplate your nose; let your nose contemplate your mouth; let your mouth contemplate your mind.” This allows us to control the monkey of the mind and rein in the wild horse of our thoughts, so that they stop running outside seeking things. As we sit in the meditation hall, we may not stare left and right, because if we gaze all around, then our mind will wander outside, and we won’t be able to investigate Chan. Please pay heed to this point, everyone! The time in a meditation retreat is extremely valuable; you could say that there is not a second to lose. We must seize the time and investigate Chan, because only through this investigation can we attain wisdom. Cultivators of the Way should not treat their skin-bag of a body as a treasure. Only people who are free of this idea can apply effort in cultivating the Way. If we treat our body as a precious thing, then we will become its slave and serve its whims all day long. Therefore, genuine cultivators treat the body as a “stinking bag of skin” and don’t prize it highly. Valuing the body is an obstacle to cultivation. We should merely “borrow the false to cultivate what is true,” and see it as just an expedient means. Most meditators have two problems: restlessness and torpor. That is, if they aren’t indulging in idle thinking, they’ll be dozing off. Those who know how to work hard, however, will be concentrating their energy on their inquiry; they will absolutely not be sleeping.

The key to meditation is to investigate the meditation topic in thought after thought. A saying goes, “After long-term investigation, you will naturally attain enlightenment.” Keep searching until “the mountains vanish and the rivers disappear.” Then, “beyond the shadows of willows and vivid blossoms, another village appears.” You arrive at a whole new place; you gain an awakening. Someone says, “I’ve been practicing so long, why haven’t I become enlightened?” You haven’t been able to endure all kinds of suffering with only the wish to become enlightened. You should realize enlightenment comes from the accumulation of merit and virtue. In time, your merit and virtue will become full, and you will naturally attain enlightenment.

Tips on Chan Meditation
Be innocent and buoyant, free of improper thoughts.
Tame the mind, let go of things: that’s the essential clue.
When earth melts away and dualities are gone,
Empty space is shattered, discriminations cease.
Your magic light shines by itself, illumining the universe.
The wisdom pearl is in your grasp–guard the Mani-jewel,
For it is neither defi led nor pure and does not come or go.
When the pulse stops and thoughts cease, and the
madness ends.