反躬自身，省察自心

　　對于每一位修持者或是對佛法感興趣的人而言，從一開始即能“審視自心”是很重要的的。這是在修習佛法的前進階段中的第一步，也是最重要的一步。如同學習外語的基礎階段，無論是英語、印度語或是任何一種語言，我們都是從字母表開始，然後再進行系統的訓練課程。對于每一種形式的學習，一開始均是如此，繼而才逐漸進入更高深的修學。只有在完成了基本的課程之後，我們才能繼續進入更廣闊的學習領域並加以修持。

　　To every inpidual practitioner, or those who have interest in the Dharma, it is very important right from the beginning to check and watch one”s own mind. This is the first and foremost step in the progressive stages of Dharma practice, like learning the basic course of any language. We start with the alphabet, whether it”s English or Hindi or whatever. That too should then follow a systematic course of discipline. It”s the same for every form of study right from the beginning. Thereafter one moves on progressively to higher and further practices and studies. After having completed the basic courses one then proceeds on to more and broader learning and practices.

　　然後，我們應當時常讓身心保持一種自在與甯靜。由于我們都身處在一個忙碌而擁擠的社會，因此內心的平和就尤爲重要。我們的心識傾向于散亂，充滿了各種觀念與意識，這使得我們難于認知內在本具的無僞心性，我們變得無法分辨什麼是概念性的思想，什麼是真實的心性。因此，我們無法控製我們的概念性思考，也不能減少情緒以及負面思想。

　　Then again, one should always keep the mind and body in a relaxed and peaceful way. The pacification of mind is important because we all live in a busy and crowded society. We all tend to have somewhat distracted minds full of various conceptual thoughts and perceptions. This makes it difficult for us to recognize the inherent true nature of the mind and so we become unable to differentiate the conceptual thoughts and the true nature of the mind. Thus we can not control our conceptual thinking nor lessen the passions and our negative thoughts.

　　一旦我們通過平伏自心而止息錯誤的概念性思維，我們就會認知到心性，所有修持由此而趨進正確之道。

　　Once we have subdued wrong conceptual thinking by pacifying the mind then we will recognize the nature of the mind. Every practice then becomes right.

　　之前曾經說過，我們永遠應該評判自己多于評判他人。真正對一個人的修持與行爲有所幫助的是，審察其自身的過失、錯誤與缺點。

　　As was said before, we should always judge ourselves more than we should judge other. The true improvement of one”s practice and conduct will be through checking for one”s own defects, faults and short comings.

　　通常，大部分的人都習慣于評判其他人，而不是反省自心與自身的行持，這實際上是錯誤的，並不能幫助我們進步。所以，簡單說來就是：都要反躬自身、省察內心，這樣方可對修持有所裨益，同時你能因此認知到你的心性，從而助益他人。

　　It is very usual that most inpiduals have the habit of judging others rather than judging one”s own mind and actions. This is actually wrong and won”t help us to progress. So, in brief always judge yourself and your mind as this will improve your practice and you will also be able to recognize the true nature of your mind as well as be of help to others

　　在平息心念、令心安住之後， 就叫做“息內”或定靜，也就是“止”。你應該運用觀呼吸的方法來做“止”─(梵語：奢摩他)的修練。

　　So after subduing the mind and making the mind stable then this is called Shiney or Calm Abiding (Samatha) and with this practice of Shiney you should do the practice of counting the inhalation and exhalation of the breath..