Observing the Huatou as a Method for Cultivating Meditative Concentration

Question: When observing the huatou (critical phrase), is it the consciousness that observes, or is it the manas (the thinking mind) that observes? If it is the consciousness observing and transmitting it to the manas, causing the mental activities of the manas to become increasingly unified, reducing or minimizing its tendency to cling, gradually restraining the mind to a single point, and the manas also discerns less, reducing its clinging, so that the consciousness becomes unified. At this point, if one possesses sufficient merit and virtue, and when causes and conditions ripen, suddenly, in a moment of correspondence, one recognizes that the Alaya-vijnana (Storehouse Consciousness) is the true master. Is this the roadmap for Chan (Zen) meditation to realize the mind?

Answer: You are correct. Observing the huatou is a method for cultivating samadhi (concentration). The purpose of cultivating samadhi is to make the consciousness single-minded, preventing the dispersion of energy, so it can focus intently on contemplation and investigation. However, the content cognized by the consciousness, the content contemplated and investigated, are all directed by the manas. If the manas not only clings to the huatou but also clings to many dharmas (phenomena), showing interest in many things, then the manas attends to and contemplates many dharmas. Consequently, the Alaya-vijnana will give rise to the consciousness cognizing the many dharmas that the manas attends to and contemplates. Can consciousness remain single-minded when cognizing so much content? Then it cannot be single-minded; samadhi cannot be attained.

The purpose of investigating the huatou is precisely to make the manas cling only to the huatou, ceasing or minimizing its clinging to other dharmas, thereby enabling the consciousness to achieve a state of single-minded concentration. Superficially, cultivating samadhi trains the consciousness, but in reality, it is about subduing the manas, preventing it from clinging to too many dharmas. Investigating the huatou is essentially an effort to bind the manas to the huatou, thus stabilizing the consciousness. When the consciousness attains samadhi, contemplation becomes deep and subtle. When the consciousness perfumes the manas, the manas then also corresponds to the huatou and engages in pondering the huatou. If the investigation of the huatou penetrates deeply into the manas, causing the manas to form a habit and regard investigating the huatou as an essential task, then even in the sleep state, the manas will continue its work, causing the consciousness to investigate the huatou even in dreams; furthermore, it causes the consciousness to investigate the huatou during all activities—walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. When the consciousness is deeply concentrated and contemplation diminishes, the function of the manas becomes prominent, continuously clinging to the huatou in the background. When causes, conditions, and the right moment are fully ripe, one can realize the Alaya-vijnana and attain enlightenment of the mind. If the samadhi is shallow, the function of consciousness predominates, and the manas participates little or not at all; often, emotional thinking and intellectual understanding are abundant, leading to a predominance of conceptual understanding.

Everything ultimately pertains to the manas. Consciousness is dependently originated; the manas engages in parikalpita (false conceptualization), while the Alaya-vijnana is without knowledge or perception. The parikalpita of the manas obscures its inherent wisdom, preventing it from manifesting. Only by making its mental activities single-minded, ceasing or minimizing clinging, can accomplishment be achieved. Therefore, cultivating samadhi is extremely important.