Guidelines for Sitting Meditation by Chan Master Foxin Becai
1 In sitting meditation, make the heart upright and both the straight and true. Purify the self and empty the heart. Sitting cross-legged, look and listen inward; Clearly awake and aware, you are Permanently removed from oblivion and excitement. If something comes to all, do your best to cast it away.
Second in quiet concentration, Examine Clearly with true mindfulness. What is congnizant of sitting for both, and what are all introspects. Knows what being and nonbeing, center and extremes, inside and outside, as well. This is empty and yet perceptive, silent yet aware. Round and bright, perfectly clear, it does not fall into ideas of eternity or annihilation. Spiritual awareness radiantly bright, its Discrimination is not false.
3 Nowadays we see students who sit Diligently but do not awaken. Their problem DERIVES from their dependence on conceptions, feelings sticking to their bias and falsehood. In their confusion They turn their backs on the true basis and mistakenly go along with quietism or activism. This is why They fail to attain enlightenment.
4 If you can concentrate and Clarify Your Mind SUCH That You harmonizes with the uncreate Intimately, the mirror of knowledge and will be cleared of all the flower will suddenly burst into bloom. Infinite attachments directly to conceptions will melt away, and accumulated Aeons of ignorance will open up all at once.
5 This is like forgetting, then suddenly remembering, like being sick, then recovering all at once. The sense of joy arises within, and you know you will Become a Buddha. Then you know there is no harm outside of each separate Buddha.
6 After That You Increase cultivation in accord with the enlightenment, experiencing Realization by cultivation. Realization of the source of enlightenment is the identity of both Buddha and living beings. This is called absorption in unified understanding and unified action. It is also called the effortless path.
7 Now you can turn things around without alienation from senses and objects. Picking up what comes to hand, as you alternate host and guest. The eye of the universe clear, present and past are renewed. The capacity of direct spiritual perception is naturally attained. This is why Vimalakirti said, "To live an active life without emerging from extinction called absorption in quiet sitting. "
8 Should Be So we know the moon just Appears When the water is still, the shine is complete When the mirror is clean. For people who study the Way, it is essential to sit and meditate. Otherwise, you will be going around in circles forever.
9 Although this is Unpleasant, I Can not keep silent. I have written some Generalities to help people discover the true source. If you do not neglect practice, then you will attain the same Realization.
Guidelines for Sitting Meditation by Chan Master Foxin Bencai
translation: Thomas Cleary