It is because you do not know how to apply it

　　因爲你不會用！

　　Q: What methods can be used to control false thoughts

　　 Do we pay no attention to them

　　 Or should we catch and throw them away like cats catching mice

　　A: Cats catching mice is only an analogy. Since you don”t know how to skillfully use the phrase, “Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　” your false thoughts appear. If you continuously keep in mind the single thought, “Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　” how can false thoughts appear

　　 There is no way these thoughts will arise.

　　Q: I”ve heard people say that, “When one lets go of the myriad conditions, not one thought will arise.” Why is that

　　A: When not a single thought arises, the entire substance manifests. As soon as the six sense faculties move, one is covered by clouds. The thought of investigating Chan is also false. When you investigate “who

　　” this investigation is considered a false thought. However, this is called using one false thought to stop other false thoughts. It is also known as using one poison to counteract another one, so that the illness can be cured. That”s why we investigate the meditation topic. The ability to investigate this topic is not obtained overnight. One must apply effort for an extended period of time before Chan manifests.

　　問：用什麼方法來控製妄想？是不管它？還是用貓捕鼠的方法，一來就把它抓走？

　　答：貓捕鼠是個譬喻，因爲你用「念佛是誰」沒有用好，才會有妄想。你只有「念佛是誰」單單這一念持續著「念佛是誰

　　念佛是誰

　　」妄想怎麼會生出來？沒有法子生的。

　　問：聽人家說要「萬緣放下，不生一念」爲什麼要一念不生？

　　答：一念不生全體現，六根忽動被雲遮。參禅也是妄想，你參「誰」這不是妄想嗎？可是這是以妄止妄，以這個妄想來止住其它的妄想，這也叫以毒攻毒，卻能把毒病治好，所以要參話頭。參話頭的功夫不是一朝一夕就能有的，這要久而久之，久參就有禅了。