Excerpt from the Mohe Zhiguan (The Great Calming and Contemplation)

Original text of the Mohe Zhiguan: 听观多。如日焦芽。即应听止。润以定水。或听定淹久。如芽烂不生。即应听观。令风日发动。使善法现前。或时驰觉。一念叵住。即应听止。以治散心。或沉昏蒙蒙坐雾。即当听观。破此睡熟。或听止豁豁。即专听止。或闻观朗朗。即专听观。是为自修信行。八番巧安心也。Explanation: When the mind's deliberation and contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) on the meaning of the Dharma is excessive, it is like the sun scorching a withered little sprout; at this time one should cease deliberation and contemplative practice, settle the mind and cultivate meditation, just like watering a withered sprout to moisten it. When the mind has abided in meditative concentration for a long time, it is like a sprout being flooded with water, so that it rots and no longer grows; at this time one should arise from the stillness of meditative concentration to move the mind and deliberate on the meaning of the Dharma through contemplative practice, so that the merit of wholesome dharmas appears and grows in the mind—just like blowing wind on a nearly rotten sprout and shining sunlight upon it, so that the nourishment of earth, water, fire, and wind is evenly applied to the sprout, and only then can the sprout grow vigorously. In the course of practice, sometimes the initial application and sustained examination (vitarka-vicāra) gallop on without cease, thoughts surge and cannot be stopped, the mind is restless, and the merit of wholesome dharmas disappears or fails to appear; at this time one should cultivate meditative concentration, settle the mind, and counteract the scattered, grasping mind, so that the merit of wisdom may arise. In the course of practice, sometimes when sitting quietly the mind is drowsy and muddled, hazy as if sitting in fog, the mind is dark and dull and no merit or benefit of wisdom arises; at this time one should arise and deliberate on the meaning of the Dharma through contemplative practice, to break through this state of drowsy sleep. In the course of practice, when within meditative concentration the mind is clear and luminously illuminating, like the sun at its zenith, one should continue single-mindedly cultivating meditative concentration, because in this way the water of wisdom arises more easily. Sometimes, upon introspecting, one finds that one's contemplative wisdom flows forth like a gurgling stream; at this time one should continue wholeheartedly engaging in contemplative practice, to ensure that the water of wisdom keeps gushing forth without interruption. The above are the eight skillful methods of settling the mind that sentient beings should understand and apply in the course of practice: one should strive to achieve the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā, and must not neglect either side; otherwise, practice cannot reach accomplishment.