You can also investigate “who

　　”

　　參「誰」也可以

　　Q: Master, you teach us that in investigating, “Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　” we should keep on investigating the “who

　　” However, when I am reciting the word “who,” I am not able to give rise to the subsequent thought: “Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　”

　　A: If you cannot be mindful of the entire phrase, it is all right to just investigate the word “who

　　” You can investigate “who

　　” for as long as you like. When you focus on “who

　　” no other false thoughts will exist in your mind. When others investigate, “Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　” they can investigate the word “who

　　” alone for hours. As long as you keep the thought “who

　　” going without interruption, it is perfectly fine.

　　Q: Sometimes, I do not seem to be able to find the door. I don”t know how to get out.

　　A: Do not panic. Take your time. You will eventually find it.

　　Q: When cultivating the Way, I sometimes advance but sometimes I retreat. Till now I feel very unstable and confused.

　　A: If you had been stable all the time, you would have become a Buddha already.

　　問：師父教我們參「念佛是誰」要一直去參「誰」字，可是我在念「誰」，第二個「念佛是誰」的話頭就提不起來了。

　　答：你要是提不起來，單單就參一個「誰」也可以，這個「誰」參多久的時間都可以。你有「誰」在這兒，什麼妄念都沒有了。人家參「念佛是誰」就這一個「誰

　　」可以參幾個鍾頭，你要能接接連連不斷的參都可以的。

　　問：有時候我好像找不到門，不知道怎麼出去？

　　答：不要著急，慢慢找，慢慢就會找到了。

　　問：修道有時候進步，有時候退步，到現在還是不穩定、很迷糊。

　　答：你要是都穩定，那不早就成佛了嘛！