Sifting gold from the sand

沙里澄金

Since so many people participate in the Chan session, it is not for sure who will be enlightened and who will not. The work of investigating Chan is like panning for gold in the sand.

这么多人在这儿打禅七，其中不一定哪一个开悟，也不一定哪个不开悟，这就是沙里澄金。

You can sit in full lotus posture or half lotus. Try to keep your body straight. Do not lean to either side or lean forward or backward. Contemplate “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” After a while, you will get into it. After you get into it, you will return to the source, see your nature and your mind, know the original face, and see the scenery of your homeland. This is the true benefit of investigating Chan. The methods for investigating Chan that I have explained are very shallow. We should not speak profound theories to beginners. Whoever can use this method to cultivate will obtain the benefits you ought to receive. Do not let these words go in one ear and out the other. During the Chan session, it is very important to understand how to begin to apply effort.

你能结双跏趺坐，或者单跏趺坐，把身体坐直，不要东歪西歪，前仰后合，心里常常思惟这个「念佛是谁」久而久之，自然就会相应了；相应之后，你就会返本还原，明心见性，认识本来的面目，见着你本地的风光，这就是你参加禅七得到真正好处了！现在所讲的初步用功的方法，是很浅显的，对初学的人不能说的太深。你哪一个能依照这个方法来修行，都会得到你所应该得到的好处。切记不要像风从耳边刮过去，什么也没有了。你在禅七的期间，明白用功的初步，这是很要紧的！