Excerpts from *The Great Calming and Contemplation*

Original text of the Mohe Zhiguan (The Great Calming and Contemplation): 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 engages in much deliberation (manasikāra) and contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) on the Dharma principles, it is like the sun's light scorching a withered little sprout; at this time one should cease deliberation and contemplative practice, settle the mind and rest it in meditative concentration (samādhi), just like watering and moistening the withered sprout. When the mind has abided in meditative concentration for a long time, it is like a sprout being flooded with water, causing it to rot and no longer grow; at this time one should arise from the stillness of meditative concentration and give rise to thoughts to deliberate and contemplate the Dharma principles, so that the merit of wholesome dharmas arises and grows in the mind—just like blowing wind upon a nearly rotten sprout and shining sunlight upon it, so that the nutrients of earth, water, fire, and wind are 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 does not manifest; at this time one should cultivate meditative concentration, settle the mind, in order to counteract the scattered, object-chasing mind, so that the merit of wisdom may arise. In the course of practice, sometimes when sitting quietly the head is drowsy and muddled, hazy as if sitting in fog, the mind is dark and dull and does not give rise to the benefit of the merit of wisdom; at this time one should give rise to thought and deliberate and contemplate the Dharma principles to break through this drowsy, sleeping state. In the course of practice, when in meditative concentration the mind within is clear and luminously illuminating, like the sun at midday, at this time one should continue single-mindedly cultivating meditative concentration, because in this way the water of wisdom arises more easily. Sometimes one introspects and finds that one's contemplative wisdom is gushing forth like a flowing stream; at this time one should continue wholeheartedly cultivating contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), to ensure that the water of wisdom keeps welling forth continuously. 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.