It is because you do not know how to apply it

因为你不会用！

Q: What methods can be used to control false thoughts? Do we pay no attention to them? Or should we catch and throw them away like cats catching mice?

A: Cats catching mice is only an analogy. Since you don’t know how to skillfully use the phrase, “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” your false thoughts appear. If you continuously keep in mind the single thought, “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” how can false thoughts appear? There is no way these thoughts will arise.

Q: I’ve heard people say that, ‘When one lets go of the myriad conditions, not one thought will arise.’ Why is that?

A: When not a single thought arises, the entire substance manifests. As soon as the six sense faculties move, one is covered by clouds. The thought of investigating Chan is also false. When you investigate “who?” this investigation is considered a false thought. However, this is called using one false thought to stop other false thoughts. It is also known as using one poison to counteract another one, so that the illness can be cured. That’s why we investigate the meditation topic. The ability to investigate this topic is not obtained overnight. One must apply effort for an extended period of time before Chan manifests.

问：用什么方法来控制妄想？是不管它？还是用猫捕鼠的方法，一来就把它抓走？

答：猫捕鼠是个譬喻，因为你用「念佛是谁」没有用好，才会有妄想。你只有「念佛是谁」单单这一念持续着「念佛是谁?念佛是谁?」妄想怎么会生出来？没有法子生的。

问：听人家说要「万缘放下，不生一念」为什么要一念不生？

答：一念不生全体现，六根忽动被云遮。参禅也是妄想，你参「谁」这不是妄想吗？可是这是以妄止妄，以这个妄想来止住其它的妄想，这也叫以毒攻毒，却能把毒病治好，所以要参话头。参话头的功夫不是一朝一夕就能有的，这要久而久之，久参就有禅了。