The Original Text of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Volume VII

During the first seven days, sincerely prostrate to the Tathagatas of the ten directions, the great Bodhisattvas, and the names of the Arhats. Constantly, during the six periods of the day, encircle the altar while reciting the mantra, practicing the path with utmost sincerity. At each period, constantly perform one hundred and eight recitations. In the second seven days, single-mindedly dedicate oneself to generating the Bodhisattva vows without interruption. My Vinaya previously contained these vow teachings. In the third seven days, throughout the twelve periods of the day, single-mindedly uphold the Buddha's Pancaraksa mantra. On the seventh day, the Tathagatas of the ten directions will simultaneously appear. At the place where the lights intersect, receive the Buddha's touch on the crown. Then, within the cultivation site, cultivate samadhi. This enables practitioners in this degenerate age to attain physical and mental clarity and purity, like crystal. Ananda. If the precept master from whom this bhiksu originally received the precepts, or any one among the ten bhiksus in the same assembly, is impure, such a cultivation site will largely not succeed. After the three seven-day periods, sit upright and dwell peacefully for one hundred days. Those with sharp faculties, without rising from their seat, will attain Srotapanna. Even if their body and mind have not yet fully realized the sage fruit, they will decisively know without error that Buddhahood will be attained. You inquired about establishing the cultivation site; it is thus.

The above explanation:

1. The Surangama Mantra is particularly supreme and auspicious; everyone should be able to memorize it and persistently recite it daily from seven to one hundred and eight times.

2. Generating vows is especially important; supported by vow-power, nothing is insurmountable. To achieve success in learning Buddhism and to resolve the great matter of birth and death, one must learn to generate great Bodhisattva vows, protect and uphold the Buddha Dharma and the Buddhist teachings, benefiting oneself and others. Without the pull of vow-power, cultivation is slower than an old ox. Every person who achieves success in cultivation relies on the pull of vow-power; without vow-power, one is pulled by karmic force. Without generating vows, compassion cannot arise. Pulled by vow-power, the mind becomes firm and unafraid of hardship. After generating vows, the heart's aspirations will gradually be fulfilled.

3. By strictly cultivating the above two points within the altar site—reciting the Surangama Mantra and generating vows while paying homage to the Buddha—one will certainly enter samadhi and receive the Buddha's touch on the crown.

4. If the precept-bestowing master is physically and mentally impure, the precepts received by the disciple will be impure. If the presiding monastic bhiksu in the cultivation site is physically and mentally impure, the cultivation site will not succeed, and cultivation within this site will be fruitless. Therefore, everyone should first receive the precepts as soon as possible. Second, one should examine whether the precept-bestowing master has a pure mind. Third, investigate the cultivation site one is in, examining whether the abbot is physically and mentally pure.

Here, the Buddha tells us that for cultivation, one must choose a precept-bestowing master with a good and pure mind, as well as monastic teachers to follow who are pure, and also select a cultivation site where the abbot's mind is pure. If you have previously received precepts, examine whether you attained the precept-essence. If you suspect you did not attain the precept-essence, it is best to first purify your karmic offenses through repentance, then re-select a pure precept-bestowing master to receive the precepts anew.

The Buddha teaches us in the Surangama Sutra: If establishing a mandala, during the third seven days, recite the Surangama Mantra one hundred and eight times exclusively for twenty-four hours each day. Then the Buddha will come to touch the crown, offering comfort, and one will enter samadhi. Afterward, during one hundred days, dwell peacefully in seated meditation, unmoving and unshaken, and one will realize the first fruit, Srotapanna. Nowadays, to establish a pure cultivation site as a mandala, it seems impossible to find ten monastic bhiksus with pure minds. Among the ten masters bestowing the Three Platforms of Great Precepts in a precept platform, not all are pure. Therefore, whether monastics can attain the precept-essence is uncertain. If we do not cultivate diligently in this present life, it is uncertain when in future lives we might obtain a human body and encounter the Buddha Dharma again. Even if encountering the Buddha Dharma then, what state it will have degenerated into is truly hard to say. Observing the suffering of beings in the three lower realms now, we know that when we go to the three lower realms in the future, it will be much the same. Everyone truly has no reason to waste time and be irresponsible towards their own future.