Do not Practice a Seven-Day Watch Session

　　你不要打「表七」

　　During the Chan session, it is better not to bring your watch. Once you have your watch, you will be checking the time, and the Chan session will become a “watch session” or “time session”! You must forget about time. If you are without a “self,” how can there still be a concept of time

　　 Time and space should both be empty; only then will you have a response. This is called, “Letting go of mind and body and moving towards bodhi.” Those who have completed the Chan session should continue to work hard at your practice. Those who have not should start to be more hardworking. After all, the most difficult aspect in any undertaking is the beginning.

　　打禅七的人最好都不要戴表，你戴著表就會常常看時間，這不是打禅七，而是打「表七」、打「時間七」了！要忘了時間，自己都沒有，怎麼會有個時間？時間和空間都要不存在，這才相應，這叫「身心放下，趨向菩提」。打過禅七的人繼續來用功，沒有打過禅七的人就要開始用功，所謂「萬事起頭難」在這個難的地方下手用功，所得到的才是真正有價值的東西。

　　If, however, we work hard to overcome the difficulty of initial startup, we will get something really valuable in return. All of us should strive to turn ourselves around, and not be as confused as before. We should strive to leave deluded thoughts and feelings far behind, and aspire towards nirvana. Then we get to see the Buddhas of the three times. During the Chan session, whether it be for the duration of a single sitting period, or even better, from morning till night, you should let go of your false thoughts and worldly defilements. The Shurangama Sutra says, “When the mad mind stops, just this stopping is bodhi.” If your wild and untamed mind is stopped, bodhi will manifest. Do not search for bodhi outside; it is within your own nature.

　　各位要努力轉過身來，不要像過去那樣顛倒，要遠離顛倒夢想，究竟涅槃，才能見到叁世諸佛。禅七期間無論坐一支香也好，一天到晚都來參加打七更好，總而言之，要把你的妄想、塵勞放下；《楞嚴經》說「狂心若歇，歇即菩提」你的狂心能停止，菩提自然就現前；不要到外邊找去，都在你自性裏邊。