How to Transform the Habitual Tendencies of Manas

Since beginningless kalpas, the manas has been accustomed to eating and drinking, habituated to consuming food at fixed times and in fixed quantities, and accustomed to delicious meals. If one wishes to fast and abstain from food to alter the manas's dietary habits, one must gradually reduce food intake rather than abruptly cutting it off. This allows the manas an adaptation period, giving it psychological preparation. Only when the manas has adjusted to consuming less food can one then cease eating entirely. Then it will not resist or reject the change. Even after seven days without eating, half a month without eating, or one or two months without eating, no physical or mental issues will arise; instead, one may even experience heightened vitality.

The habits of the manas are too deep-rooted, subtle, and difficult to perceive. It clings excessively to familiar people, matters, and objects. Only by step-by-step, imperceptibly shifting its habits and lessening its attachments can one gradually transform its tendencies and reduce its clinging.

The same method can be applied to cultivate the Pratyutpanna Samadhi, enabling one to refrain from sleeping, lying down, or sitting for ninety days. This changes the manas's habits of sleeping, lying, and sitting, allowing one to diligently recite the Buddha's name at all times, transform body and mind, and resonate with the Buddha, thereby attaining enlightenment. When practicing, begin by training to refrain from sleeping, lying down, or sitting for one day and one night. Then cultivate refraining for three days and three nights. Once accustomed, practice for seven days and seven nights, followed successively by twenty-one days and nights, forty-nine days and nights, and finally, one will be able to endure ninety days without sleeping, lying down, or sitting. Because the mind is focused solely on reciting the Buddha's name, unified without distraction, and supported by the Buddha's power, one can persevere until the mind is enlightened.