Sifting gold from the sand

　　沙裏澄金

　　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.

　　這麼多人在這兒打禅七，其中不一定哪一個開悟，也不一定哪個不開悟，這就是沙裏澄金。

　　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.

　　你能結雙跏趺坐，或者單跏趺坐，把身體坐直，不要東歪西歪，前仰後合，心裏常常思惟這個「念佛是誰」久而久之，自然就會相應了；相應之後，你就會返本還原，明心見性，認識本來的面目，見著你本地的風光，這就是你參加禅七得到真正好處了！現在所講的初步用功的方法，是很淺顯的，對初學的人不能說的太深。你哪一個能依照這個方法來修行，都會得到你所應該得到的好處。切記不要像風從耳邊刮過去，什麼也沒有了。你在禅七的期間，明白用功的初步，這是很要緊的！