The Principle of Truly Engaging in Chan Practice

When investigating Chan, the mind consciousness may be without thought, but the manas must never be without thought. If there is no thought, it is purely the cultivation of meditative concentration (samādhi), and wisdom cannot arise; therefore one cannot attain enlightenment, nor can one see one's true nature.

When meditative power is very good, the mind consciousness seems to be without thought, but in fact there is still one thought suspended in the heart—that is, suspended in the manas. The manas is investigating, while the mind consciousness cooperates. When the material is sufficient and the data complete, the investigation is led primarily by the manas.

If the data is insufficient, the manas will ask the mind consciousness for material and data, and then investigate deeply. This is the true secret of applying effort in investigation; if everyone knew it, it would no longer be a secret. When the manas asks the mind consciousness for material and data, the mind consciousness must engage in obvious thinking and analysis, then hand the results of its analysis and thinking over to the manas, and the manas will then investigate on the basis of this data. We have all had this experience: on the surface we seem to have no thoughts or thinking, yet deep inside the mind has not settled into stillness—there are still some mental activities deeply hidden within, like the water of the great ocean, which appears still and calm on the surface while its currents are in fact very swift. Such is the manas: deep and hidden, hard to fathom, profound and unfathomable.

Realizing enlightenment through investigating Chan can only occur under certain conditions of causes and conditions; it depends on the respective states of the mind consciousness and the manas. Therefore, an experienced and highly responsible Chan master will observe whether a disciple's causes and conditions are complete. If they are not complete—for instance, if meditative concentration is lacking—he will not begin to guide them, lest the disciple gain only intellectual understanding and remain unable to be filled with vitality for a lifetime. Awakening under different Chan masters yields wisdom that differs greatly, and the disparity in realization is considerable. Thus, the kind of Chan master one encounters precisely reflects the state of one's own merit and causes and conditions.