Practice Curriculum for Everyone's Reference

Sit quietly in meditation for at least half an hour each morning and evening. During sitting, you may recite the Śūraṅgama Mantra or the Heart Sutra; recite slowly, reciting with the mind gathered and collected.

Perform one good deed each day; if you cannot manage that, one good deed per week is also acceptable. Try to cultivate merit every day, and it is best to make offerings to the Buddha daily. As for other practices, cultivate them according to conditions and according to your capacity.

Each day, examine your conduct of precepts and your conduct of mind; examine your arising thoughts and mental activities, and frequently contemplate and observe your own mind.

Read the Āgama sutras, understand the concepts and meanings of the five aggregates and the eighteen elements, and each day engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) and reflection on a short passage.

Read and recite, or memorize, the Heart Sutra or the Diamond Sutra; even being able to reflect on a single sentence is good.

While walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, let the mind rest on one dharma—whether reciting the Śūraṅgama Mantra, the Heart Sutra, or engaging in recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti).

Whenever you have time, contemplate and observe the functions and natures of the seven consciousnesses, and then contemplate the functions and nature of the eighth consciousness.

Each person's content and level of practice are different. Arrange your own practice according to your actual circumstances, and do not let any day pass in vain.

Each day, turn the light inward and reflect back upon yourself, examine your mind, and see whether your afflictions have become a little lighter; whether your state of mind has become calm and free of turbulence; whether your pursuits of and attachments to worldly matters have diminished; whether you have become less fond of indulgence; whether you have gradually developed a bit of a mind of renunciation; whether your disposition has become more sincere and honest; whether worldly wisdom and the wisdom of the Buddha's teachings have increased; whether your confidence in your own practice has grown strong; whether your mind's daily chasing after conditions has decreased; whether your mind has become clear and joyful; whether you handle matters more thoroughly and completely…