Do not eat too much.

　　不要吃太飽了

　　If you wish to not eat and still have the energy to continue practicing, that is permissible. However, if you choose not to eat but do not have the energy to sustain yourself for sitting or walking, it would be better to eat something. Cultivators of the Way should not eat too much or they may end up hurting their stomachs. Those who eat only once a day before noon are especially prone to injuring their stomachs. That is why we must accord with the Middle Way even when it comes to meals, which means not eating too much, nor too little. Why do we not get a response despite our rigorous cultivation

　　 It is because if we forget to eat, wear enough clothes, or sleep, we keep thinking all day long, “I didn”t get enough sleep! I didn”t get enough food! I should have eaten more today.” Or we keep thinking, “I am really ill.” If we cannot forget about these minor things, our false thinking will not cease and the true mind will not manifest. This is analogous to murky water. If you keep stirring it, it will never be clear. That is why it is said, “When the mind is clear, the moon appears in the water.” If one”s mind is clear and pure, it is indeed like still water reflecting the moon. “With thoughts quieted, there are no clouds in the sky.” If there are no false thoughts, it is indeed as if there were no clouds in the sky, and your own nature”s light of wisdom will manifest.

　　你願意不吃東西，還能有氣力支持用功，這是可以的；你要是不吃東西，坐也沒有氣力，跑也沒有氣力，那還是吃一點東西好。修道的人吃東西不要吃太飽，否則胃會受傷，像持午的人，尤其日中一食的人往往把胃都撐壞了，所以吃東西要取乎中道，不要太過也不要不及。我們爲什麼用功不能相應呢？就是一天到晚忘不了吃，忘不了穿，忘不了睡覺，總想著：「不夠睡，沒吃飽！今天應該再多吃點。」或者忘不了「我有病，我病得這麼厲害。」因爲忘不了這些，所以妄想就不能停止，真心就現不出來。好像水很渾，你搖搖幌幌的，它就沒法清淨；除非你停止不動它，所以說：「心清水現月」你心裏清淨就好像水裏現出明月一樣；「意定天無雲」你的意念要是不打妄想，就好像天上沒有烏雲，自性的智慧光明就現出來了。