..续本文上一页n, go right ahead and walk. That”s how we must train ourselves, do it!

　　So these are the things to do. But you won”t know about them from just listening to what others tell you. You can only know from actually doing the practice. So go ahead and do it. These are the first steps in training the mind. When meditating, focus on only one thing. Sitting, the mind only watches the breath going in and out, continually watching, slowly becoming peaceful. If the mind is scattered, as soon as you sit you”re off missing home, mind reaching way over there, thinking you”d like to eat some noodles (those who”ve just ordained -- hungry, no

　　). You want to eat, want to drink, hungry, wanting, missing everything! Till you”re crazy. But if you go crazy then be crazy, till you can work through it.

　　But do it! Have you ever done walking meditation

　　 How is it

　　 "Mind wanders." Then stop till it comes back. If it really wanders, then don”t breathe until you can”t stand it -- your mind will come back. If you sit and your mind goes running everywhere, hold your breath, don”t let it out, and when you can”t stand it, it”ll come back! Make the mind strong. Training the mind is not the same as training animals, you know, it”s something that”s really difficult to train! Don”t be easily discouraged. At times, holding your breath till your chest is about to burst is the only thing that”ll catch your mind -- it”ll come running back! Try it and see.

　　During this rains retreat get to know what it”s about. In the daytime, do it; at night, do it; whenever you”re fee, go ahead and do it. Do walking meditation night and day, even if you don”t talk. Turn your attention right back to your meditation, make it continuous.

　　It”s the same as the water in this drinking bottle. If we tilt it a bit, it starts to "drip, drip, drip..."; we tilt it more and "drippity, drippity, drippity..." That”s like our mindfulness. And if we really pour it out, it becomes a steady stream of water, like out of a tap, not just dripping. Meaning that: whether we stand, walk, sit, lie down or whatever, if we are always aware, then our mindfulness is the same as a steady stream of water. If we really pour it out, it”s a steady stream. So, if our mind wanders, thinks of this and that, then our mindfulness is only like dripping water.

　　So training our mind is just like this. Whether we think of this or that, are restless, aren”t together, doesn”t matter. Just keep practicing continually, and you”ll develop awareness until it”s a constant flow. Whether standing, sitting, lying down, or whatever, that awareness will be right there with you. Do it and see!

　　Just sitting around, it”s not going to happen by itself, you know. But if you try too hard, you can”t do it either. don”t try at all -- still can”t do it! Keep that in mind. Sometimes you don”t even intend to sit in meditation, but your work”s finished and you sit down, empty your mind, and pap! -- you”re peaceful right away. Easy, because you”re right there.

　　Take this then -- that”s enough for now!

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　　Questions and Answers

　　Question: I”m trying very hard in my practice but don”t seem to be getting anywhere.

　　Answer: This is very important. Don”t try to get anywhere in the practice. The very desire to be free or to be enlightened will be the desire that prevents your freedom. You can try as hard as you wish, practice ardently night and day, but if it is still with the desire to achieve in mind, you will never find peace. The energy from this desire will be a cause for doubt and restlessness. No matter how long or how hard you practice, wisdom will not arise from desire. So, simply let go. Watch the mind and body mindfully but don”t try to achieve anything. Don”…

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