Chan is acquired through long periods of sitting

久坐有禅

You must have some skill when cultivating Chan meditation. Just as no one can dig a well by scooping up a single shovel of dirt, no one can reach the Western Pure Land by taking only a single step. Nor can someone realize Buddhahood after one minute of practice. One must apply effort in Chan investigation. ‘Investigation’ here refers to studying single-mindedly. It also means applying effort in thought after thought without thinking of anything else. It is said, “When the mind is focused, things come together wonderfully. When the mind is scattered, matters turn out undesirably.” Investigating Chan is analogous to a hen hatching eggs. The mother hen sits on her eggs every day. When she has sat long enough, the chicks hatch. Investigating Chan is just like this. It is also like a dragon nurturing its pearl; it never forgets to nourish its precious pearl. It is also like a cat trying to catch a mouse; as soon as the mouse appears, the cat pounces on it so that it cannot escape. If you have the ability to sit patiently over long periods of time, you will naturally be enlightened. Therefore, it is said, “Chan is acquired through long periods of sitting.” After sitting for an extended period of time, the thoughts will naturally subside.

参禅法门，要有相当的工夫，不是一锹就可以挖个井，也不是一步就可以到西方极乐世界，也不是修行一分钟就可以成佛果，这是要参的。这个参的意思，就是专心致志来研究，所谓念兹在兹的，心无旁骛，所谓「专一则灵，分驰则弊」。这譬如鸡孵卵，老母鸡天天趴在那儿孵蛋，时候到了小鸡就出来了，参禅也是这样；又如龙养珠，龙时刻不忘在养自己的宝珠；又好像猫捕鼠，老鼠不出来则已，只要一出来，猫一爪就把老鼠抓住，牠就跑不了了。你有「时长耐久」的工夫，自然就会开悟，所谓「久坐有禅」坐久了，念虑自然就会静止下来。