In Investigating Chan, First Lay the Foundation

Among the students of Buddhism, some like to investigate Chan; some like to study the teachings, speak the Dharma, and lecture on the sutras; some like to investigate the precepts; some like the Secret School; and some like the Pure Land School. It doesn’t matter which school you prefer, but you must single-mindedly focus and cultivate with diligence. You will then be able to achieve your goal and realize your aspirations.

If you do not focus on your goal, then no matter what you study, it is tantamount to not learning. After investigating Chan for two and a half days, you decide to recite the Buddha’s name; after reciting the Buddha’s name for half a day, you decide to study the Vinaya (moral code). After studying the Vinaya for a while, you decide to learn the Secret School. With your goals constantly changing, you cannot stay focused. The reason you cannot stay focused is because you are seeking outside. You have your feet in two different directions – one foot is heading north and the other one heading south, and you cannot decide which way you want to go. This way, you end up wasting your whole life.

In investigating Chan, you must be vigorous at all times; do not be lazy for a single minute or second. You should investigate until —

Reaching the ends of mountains and rivers, you doubt if there is a road ahead.

Beyond the dark willows and the bright flowers, another village unfolds.

At that instant there is another heaven, another natural paradise. However, you must investigate in order to the reach the utmost summit. Then, there is a bit of hope, but not much. Although there is a tiny bit of hope, do not hang onto it, because that would be superfluous (adding a head on top of a head).
To investigate Chan, you must honestly put in the effort. To start, you must practice sitting in lotus position until your legs are compliant, that is, they don’t hurt or cause any trouble. How can you get your legs to stop hurting? Is there a mantra you can recite to stop the pain? Is there medication you can take to keep them from hurting? No. You must endure the pain, and then your legs will become obedient and stop hurting. If you cannot endure it, and you loosen legs to relax as soon as they start hurting, your legs will never become obedient because you spoil them. Whenever they hurt, placate them like placating an unhappy kid. The child knows that his parents cannot bear to let him suffer. However, without experiencing suffering, he won’t be able to endure any difficulty in the future. Your legs are just like a kid child. If you don’t train them to overcome the pain, they will hurt all the time, even when they aren’t supposed to, because you’ve spoiled them rotten.

Train your legs and your back to be compliant so they won’t ache or hurt. When your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and mind are all compliant, they won’t seek after sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or dharmas. When your six sense organs aren’t influenced by the six sense objects, but instead turn inward in retrospect, that’s obedience. As said,

The eyes see forms, but inside there is nothing.

The ears hear sounds, but the mind does not know.

You should constantly reflect within instead of seeking outside. Hold fast to your basic Dharma-door: “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” Holding fast to the basic, you “secure the root, and not worry of the branch tips.” There’s no need to worry about petty matters; bit by bit, everything will become clear to you.