The Difference Between Cultivating Meditative Concentration and Chan Meditation

To achieve enlightenment, see the mind, and realize one's nature, one must use the methods of investigating Chan (canchan), investigating the huatou, and investigating gong'an in order to realize the tathāgatagarbha and awaken to the true suchness mind, the eighth consciousness. What is called "investigation" means using the mind consciousness to investigate the principle of true suchness and to search for the location of the eighth consciousness. Since it is investigation, the mind consciousness must of course be awake, wise, and clear about the principles—not muddled or drowsy—and certainly must not disappear into meditative concentration. Only a rational mind consciousness can investigate and search for the eighth consciousness. Without a mind consciousness, or when the mind consciousness is drowsy, one cannot investigate or search, and the result will be knowing nothing at all, making it impossible to attain the goal of seeing the mind and awakening to the Way.

It is like when we want to find a person: we must have a mind that searches, and we must know where to look and how to look. If we do not know where to look or the method of searching, nor what that person looks like, and we do not have a photo of that person, then no matter what, we will not find that person. The same applies to investigating Chan and searching for the eighth consciousness, true suchness. We must first know the nature of the eighth consciousness, which is equivalent to having a photo of the eighth consciousness. But merely having a photo of the eighth consciousness is not enough; you must also know how to search—where does He generally appear? If you do not know any of this, it will be like fishing a needle out of the sea—laboring in vain with nothing gained.

In that case, using the method of counting the breath cannot lead to enlightenment, because there is no thought of investigation; using the method of attending to thoughts also cannot lead to enlightenment, because there is no thought of searching for the eighth consciousness; using the method of sitting in meditation to enter concentration also cannot lead to enlightenment, because the mind consciousness in concentration knows nothing at all and therefore cannot correspond with the eighth consciousness. All of these are methods of cultivating meditative concentration, not methods of investigating Chan. When counting the breath, the attention is on the numbers, not on investigating and searching for the eighth consciousness, so one certainly will not find the eighth consciousness. Moreover, after a long time of counting the breath, one easily becomes drowsy or enters concentration, making it even more impossible to find the eighth consciousness. When attending to thoughts, the mind consciousness is on the thoughts and does not investigate or search for true suchness, so one cannot awaken either. When sitting in meditation and entering concentration, there is no awareness or cognition, no mind of investigation and searching, and no truth can be discovered, nor can one find true suchness, the eighth consciousness.

None of the above methods of cultivating meditative concentration can be used to investigate Chan and attain realization. The direction is unclear and the methods are wrong; with misplaced effort, the result is predictable—nothing will be gained. If this continues, after practicing for a period of time one will easily lose confidence and inevitably regress from the Path. In the process of cultivation, understanding the principles is most important; having wisdom and correct views is most important; one must not practice blindly. Buddhist practitioners should constantly examine whether their methods and path of cultivation are correct and whether they can reach the goal. If not, they should adjust their direction of practice at any time and carefully choose a method suitable for themselves. Cultivating concentration requires the method of cultivating concentration; attaining enlightenment requires the method of investigating Chan. One must understand what Chan is, how to investigate it, when to begin investigating, and so on. All of these questions must be clarified, and one must also observe whether one's conditions for investigating Chan are complete. Only after striving to perfect all the necessary conditions can one begin to investigate Chan.