The Perils of Crash Courses on the Attainment of Fruition and Mind Illumination

The path of the Bodhisattva practice is long; why be concerned with momentary speed or slowness? The attainment of the goal lies across three immeasurable kalpas. As long as one completes the Buddha Path most swiftly within these three immeasurable kalpas, one is the victor. It is like a ten-thousand-meter race: which wise person would care about being ahead or behind within the first hundred meters? Establishing long-term plans based on physical endurance to ensure priority in reaching the finish line is fundamental; nothing else matters.

A person without long-term vision will inevitably face immediate troubles. The longer the goal, the greater the wisdom, the broader the mind, the vaster the capacity, the loftier the aspiration, the stronger the stride, and the fuller the confidence. Do not be concerned with momentary speed or slowness, victory or defeat.

In this Dharma-ending age, there are not so many people with the Bodhisattva disposition, nor so many suitable vessels for the Dharma. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative not to promote expedited classes promising swift attainment of fruition or realization of the mind. In recent years, observing certain phenomena has alerted me; such expedited classes inflict profound harm, producing substandard products that endanger the normal and orderly development of Buddhism.

Many people cannot find the true starting point for cultivation and realization. This is a normal phenomenon, indicating that the causes and conditions for their cultivation and realization are not yet mature. Through their stumbling and groping, they gradually mature themselves, gradually increase their roots of goodness and merit, along with meditative concentration and wisdom, perfecting the conditions for being a Bodhisattva, cultivating the Bodhisattva’s mind and virtue. At the very least, they must possess the moral cultivation for being a human, the character of a person; otherwise, how could they act as Bodhisattvas to lead sentient beings? Leading sentient beings into the mire without their awareness—touch pitch, and you will be defiled—sentient beings unwittingly become tainted by bad habits yet believe it to be Bodhisattva conduct. The consequences are truly frightening.

I have observed some truth-seekers whose character is extremely base; they fundamentally do not know how to be human nor wish to be good people. If such individuals were to find the starting point for cultivation and realization, were to know the ultimate result, and were to become so-called nominal Bodhisattvas, what would Buddhism develop into in the future? It is truly frightening to contemplate.

The more eager someone is to swiftly realize the mind, attain awakening, and achieve fruition, the less they should attain it. Such an urgent mind stems from impure motives; the Bodhisattva’s mind is still insufficient, and the mind free from seeking has not yet been cultivated. Once such a person awakens, their seeking will only intensify, and the mind craving fame and gain will become uncontrollable. Therefore, regarding matters of cultivation, I advocate letting things take their natural course. For those whose causes and conditions are ripe, it cannot be controlled—they will awaken naturally, naturally becoming Bodhisattvas.

Swift attainment of fruition and realization of the mind occur without sufficient accumulation of merit and virtue, without the elimination of karmic obstacles, and without the subduing of afflictions. Once one approaches fruition or realization, karmic obstacles will arise to obstruct, afflictions will manifest to hinder, creating layer upon layer of obstacles. It is extremely easy to regress, losing the Bodhi mind and the aspiration for the Path, leaving subsequent cultivation powerless. Therefore, for those whose causes and conditions are immature, one must absolutely not attempt to guide them, must absolutely not pluck unripe fruits, lest it harms others, oneself, and Buddhism.

If Buddhism were to offer expedited classes, it should only conduct classes for expediting the mind, expediting Bodhicitta, expediting humanity, or expediting meditative concentration. It must absolutely not offer expedited classes for attaining fruition or realizing the mind. If the mind cannot be expedited, humanity cannot be expedited, Bodhicitta cannot be expedited, and meditative concentration cannot be expedited, how could fruition and realization of the mind possibly be expedited?

So many people complain to me, saying they cannot find the starting point for cultivation, do not know how to practice Chan meditation and realize the mind, do not know how to contemplate and practice to attain fruition. Reflecting on it now, that is precisely as it should be. Not knowing is normal; having no starting point is normal. After undergoing arduous tempering for a period, when causes and conditions ripen, one will naturally know and understand everything.