The Distinction Between Zen Meditation and Logical Reasoning

Chan meditation is a practice method advocated by past Chan patriarchs for illuminating the mind and attaining enlightenment; through this method, one can realize the eighth consciousness, the fundamental self-nature. Chan meditation requires profound meditative concentration (dhyana), enabling diligent practice day and night without interruption. Throughout all twenty-four hours, the mind must be focused on investigating and seeking the Way. With refined mental activity, when conditions ripen, encountering a specific circumstance or trigger can lead to spontaneous awakening at any moment, or enlightenment under the skillful guidance (jifeng) of a Chan master.

In the initial stage, when the skill is not yet pure, the practice is called "investigation" (xun). Here, the conscious mind (manovijñāna) exerts more effort, involving more deliberate and apparent thinking. As meditative concentration deepens and the skill matures, one enters the stage of "subtle observation" (si). At this point, the conscious mind can no longer exert deliberate effort, and the function of the mental faculty (manas) — its pondering and discerning — becomes prominent. Only then can one practice diligently day and night, integrating the practice seamlessly into waking and sleeping states. Doubt reaches its deepest point, making the mind extremely acute. Upon encountering the corresponding state, one attains enlightenment and achieves samadhi. If meditative concentration is shallow, the practice cannot deepen, and the enlightened state of samadhi and wisdom (dinghui) will not arise.

Logical reasoning and thinking, however, operate entirely on the level of the conscious mind. This is a relatively shallow level of work; it can be done with or without meditative concentration. Even middle school students can use logical thinking and reasoning to resolve doubts in their studies. Up to academic researchers at all levels, logical reasoning is commonly used. Even those with some meditative concentration possess relatively shallow levels. Logical thinking and reasoning are equivalent to the preliminary stage before formal Chan meditation. Once one enters the gate of formal practice, logical reasoning must no longer be used. It is a major taboo in Chan meditation, vehemently opposed by all Chan patriarchs, who denounce it as "reckoning under the mental faculty" (yixia bodu), "emotional-intellectual understanding" (qingsi yijie), or "ghostly speculation" (guijia huoji). Chan masters strictly forbid their disciples from reckoning under the mental faculty or seeking shortcuts, demanding practice "detached from mental consciousness" (li xin yishi can) — meaning not to use the thinking of the conscious mind, and to meditate apart from all language, words, and sounds.

When the conscious mind involves language and words, it certainly indicates very shallow or non-existent meditative concentration. When meditative concentration is deep, the conscious mind cannot engage in coarse thinking activities; even subtle thinking activities cease. However, this does not hinder the pondering activity of the mental faculty (manas). Even Buddhas can attain enlightenment while in the fourth dhyāna. For ordinary people, conscious thinking ceases in the second dhyāna, and in the third and fourth dhyānas, conscious thinking is extinguished, although the consciousness itself still exists and retains an extremely subtle knowing nature. Therefore, deeper meditative concentration can suppress the thinking of the conscious mind and stimulate the pondering of the mental faculty. When both the conscious mind and the mental faculty coexist, their thinking activities wax and wane. If conscious thinking is too active, it obstructs the pondering of the mental faculty, preventing it from exerting its function.

Logical thinking and reasoning both involve language and words. Detached from language and words, they are activities of the conscious mind's thinking. The mental faculty cannot exert its strength here; therefore, it cannot attain the final correct result. Because the mental faculty has no language or words, genuine Chan investigation and inquiry are primarily conducted by the mental faculty. When Chan patriarchs speak of practicing "detached from mental consciousness," they mean to prevent coarse thinking by the conscious mind.