How Consciousness Transmits Issues to Manas for Deliberation

To condense a question into a single thought and entrust it to the mental faculty is practiced as follows: The conscious mind transforms the entire meaning of the question into a single thought, suspending it within the mental faculty—that is, deep within the heart. Regardless of one's activities, one must carry this questioning thought profoundly and deeply within, never abandoning it. If the thought is no longer present in the heart, if the doubt vanishes, and deliberation ceases, the conscious mind must once again present the question to the mental faculty, reminding it anew. Simultaneously, the conscious mind itself should avoid excessive and complex mental activities, lest they distract the mental faculty's attention. This is precisely how Chan practitioners investigate the critical phrase (can huatou) in meditation—the method is identical. Such is the deepest and most subtle form of contemplation. Many in the secular world have employed this approach, yet they fail to systematize and articulate it for application within the Dharma.