Zen Meditation Is the Use of Consciousness to Investigate Tathagatagarbha

Engaging in Chan meditation involves using the conscious mind with perception and awareness to seek the Tathagatagarbha, which is devoid of perception and awareness. To realize the mind and perceive one's true nature, one must employ the method of investigating the critical phrase in Chan meditation. This practice entails using the conscious mind—the discerning consciousness endowed with the mental faculty of wisdom—to investigate the Tathagatagarbha, for only the conscious mind possesses this functional attribute. Investigating the Tathagatagarbha must be undertaken with sufficient meditative stability. It is best to generate a doubtful sentiment within the mind, applying this doubt to all activities of the five aggregates of self. One should constantly suspend this doubtful sentiment or hold a critical phrase in mind, then thoroughly investigate the doubt until it is ultimately resolved.

Do not engage in coarse analysis, thinking, or imagination with the conscious mind, as such emotional and intellectual interpretations can at best lead to conceptual understanding, not genuine realization. This approach cannot give rise to true wisdom and may not even achieve conceptual understanding. If one attains only conceptual understanding rather than genuine realization, Prajna-wisdom will struggle to arise, the subsequent path will prove difficult to traverse, and afflictions will not be easily subdued. It is far better to solidify one's foundation comprehensively before seeking realization. When realization occurs upon a solid foundation, wisdom will become profoundly sharp, afflictions can be effectively subdued, and one will attain genuine merit and benefit.