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 that is not possible, one good deed per week will also do. Strive to cultivate merit every day, and ideally 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 Āgamas, clearly understanding 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 small segment of the content.

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

While walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, let the mind rest on one dharma—whether reciting the Śūraṅgama Mantra, or 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 natures 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 to see whether your afflictions have become a bit lighter; whether your state of mind has become calm, without waves; whether your pursuits of and attachments to worldly matters have diminished; whether you have grown less fond of indulgence and enjoyment; whether a sense of renunciation has gradually arisen; 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 habitual grasping and wandering each day has lessened; whether your mind has become clear and joyful; whether you handle affairs more thoroughly and completely... and so on.