Understanding Meditation (11) Breakthrough Thoughts

In the previous article, through excerpts from the quotations of "Old Taoist Zhang Zhishun", we learned that the key to meditation is to keep the mind still. But, how can we achieve a state of calm mind? Does being immobile mean not thinking about anything? Do you know nothing like a fool? So next, we will introduce one of the most commonly used methods nowadays - Shen Huatou, to solve the problem of "what to think about" during meditation.

Then there are three points that need to be briefly explained before the formal introduction of Shenhuatou: 1. The importance of thoughts (including thoughts in practice). 2. See Hua Tou and Zen Master Dahuizong Gao. 3. Old monk Xuyun. These are a bridge so that we can connect to related content such as "Referring to Hua Tou" and "Arousing Suspicion".

In the previous article, we mentioned that when the Buddha saw the stars at night and became enlightened, he said, "All living beings have the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata, but they cannot achieve it because of delusions and discrimination." In fact, when I first The first time I heard this sentence, I was deeply shocked in my heart. I had never heard or heard anything before, and I immediately had doubts in my heart: "What are delusions?" "Are delusions thoughts?" "Are thoughts that important?"

Admittedly, after living for so many years, my mind has never paid attention to my own thoughts. Or I just follow the crowd in a muddle-headed manner, follow the value system of the outside world, and be influenced by external things. I don’t actually know what I am doing, I just think that everyone is doing it and I have to do it. Or they seem to be in a positive state, establishing some small goals, managing their own life and study... Day after day, they will work hard, but most of the time they are still confused. Occasionally I wake up from my sleep, not knowing where I am or what I am doing, or who I am. The momentary trance makes me fall into fear and panic. When you slowly come back to your senses, you will still feel that time has stopped, the heaven and earth are quiet, the universe is deep, lonely and unpredictable.

Only in this complete silence, when you don’t even know who you are, can you deeply appreciate the silence without “consciousness” involved and the fear mixed in it. It is often at this time that we realize that people still have "life and death".

After writing so many articles, this is the first time the word "life and death" appears. It appears at this time, and it is most appropriate to put it in the place of thought. In the final analysis, although Buddhism guides people to do good, its ultimate significance is to help us wake up from the illusory world weaved by self-delusion. Illusion can be called the reincarnation of the three realms and six paths, and awakening is the Tathagata of Nirvana. You might think there's a bit more religious undertones here, but that's not the case. Because reincarnation is everywhere, and escaping from reincarnation does not happen when you are about to die. By that time, it is already too late. Just like if you have to take an exam and you are already in the exam room, is there any use in reading? Just comfort yourself. The exam is a test of your usual skills. The same is true for the silence of Nirvana. We are always under test and face the choice of reincarnation or nirvana.

"Life and death" follow us all the time, and "life and death" are in our thoughts. How do you understand the "reincarnation of life and death"? Should we just regard it as a religious concept? Are you sensitive to the reincarnation of the world around you and your own existence? To give a few common examples: the earth is round... time is also round, the day is a 24-hour cycle, the week is a 7-day cycle... the rise and fall of history is round, and the cycle of cycles... the K-line of the stock is a circle , only cycle in three states... The life of plants is also round, flowers bloom and fall over and over again... You would say these are too common, but have you ever thought about why it has such a pattern? When you see the beautiful flowers blooming and falling, do you think of the relationship between us humans and the circle?

Looking at ourselves, have you ever noticed and classified the types of your worries? If you pay attention carefully, you will find that many times our understanding of things is based on fixed thinking. Each of us will have "points" that we care about very much, so we often fall into the same pit. For example, if there are two fruits in front of you, banana and durian, if you love bananas, you will usually choose banana without any hesitation when faced with the choice. It can be said that rigid thinking patterns will lead to continuous repetition and cycle of cognition. This cycle is reincarnation.

If you can deeply understand thoughts and the importance of thoughts, then the door to practice will be open to you. Otherwise, it will be lively for a long time and still fail to grasp the key points. Echoing and shouting, you may still be confused in the end. If you understand the importance of this thought, you will understand why practice is everywhere and why it is something that cannot be relaxed for a moment.

The breakthrough in the "circle" of reincarnation is a vertical breakthrough, rather than a two-dimensional extension of "life" and "death". It is three-dimensional and transcends the duality of life and death. The starting point for this vertical breakthrough is thought. As the saying goes, "Great things in the world must be done in small details." Whether we practice cultivation, change our destiny, or break through reincarnation, the key lies with ourselves. So be sensitive to your current life. This second has passed and will not come back again. You are either in the reincarnation dominated by habits and habits, or you are in the state of clarity and stability that breaks through the reincarnation. In, there are just these two types, there will be no other states.

The essence of meditation is to manage thoughts, which is a kind of concentrated training to "break away from reincarnation" of thoughts. That's all. (In fact, all Dharma methods, although there are many variations, are all doing this thing)

With the above analysis of thoughts, it is easy for us to know the state that thoughts in practice should reach. Why is my mind still? Do you want to be a fool? No! We must return the congested and rigid mind to emptiness, and change the scattered, dull and unconscious thoughts of "reincarnation" into focused, clear, dense, and stable single-minded thoughts. At this time, it is a clear state and a stable state. How to understand this state? Let’s think about the mirror. It reflects everything indiscriminately. It will not make you more beautiful or handsome just because you are good-looking. The same is true for managing thoughts. We are a big parent who only "sees" without distinguishing. Like a mirror, it does not differentiate but can present everything as it really is. Therefore, when managing your thoughts, you should not make arbitrary distinctions. If you make distinctions, you will muddy a pool of clear water, and you will not be able to see the true nature of things clearly.

After talking about the importance of thoughts, let’s talk about the method of managing thoughts-see Huatou. This is the most mainstream method in Zen Buddhism now. We have said before that in Zen Buddhism, "one flower blooms with five leaves, and the fruit will come naturally." In the current development, "five leaves and two leaves are left, leaving a reference." This method was first proposed by Zen Master Dahui Zonggao in the Song Dynasty. Zen Master Zonggao saw At that time, people's faculties were generally getting worse. The old method of "sudden enlightenment" by the founders in just a few words was no longer suitable. People also felt that they either liked to play "literary Zen" and show off their words but did not practice them properly. He just likes to be quiet and calm, and he is like a dead tree. The Zen master expressed that he was very troubled, and then proposed the method of "seeing Hua Tou".

So to this day, when you go to a Zen hall in a monastery, 80% of the doors will have the words "Who is chanting the Buddha's name?" This phrase has been used for 9012 years, and Zen Master Dahui Zonggao probably didn't expect it. Therefore, whenever we mention Shen Hua Tou, we cannot fail to mention Zen Master Gao of the Great Hui Zong. We would like to thank Zen Master Zonggao! When everyone understands the method of participating in Hua Tou, you will sigh that you are worthy of being the founder, it is so insightful and subtle.

So far, we have talked about the essence of meditation (thought management), the goal of managing thoughts (not moving the mind), the method of managing thoughts (see Hua Tou), and the thoughts in practice (not scattered, not lethargic) Next time we will quote excerpts from the quotations of the old monk Xuyun to see in detail how to refer to the huatou.