Cultivation Practice for Everyone's Reference

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

Perform one good deed each day; if that is not possible, performing one good deed each week is also acceptable. Try 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 observance of precepts and your mental conduct; examine your arising thoughts and intentions, and frequently contemplate and observe your own mind.

Read the Āgama sutras, clearly understanding the concepts and meanings of the five aggregates and the eighteen realms, and each day contemplate and reflect on a small section of the content.

Read, recite, and memorize the Heart Sutra or the Diamond Sutra; even being able to contemplate 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 reflect on the functions and natures of the seven consciousnesses, and then contemplate the functions and nature of the eighth consciousness.

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

Each day, also turn the light around and look back, examining your mind: Have the afflictions become a bit lighter? Is the mind calm and free of turbulence? Have worldly pursuits and attachments diminished? Have you become less fond of enjoyments? Have you gradually developed a mind of renunciation? Has your disposition become more sincere and honest? Have worldly wisdom and the wisdom of the Buddha-dharma increased? Has your confidence in your own practice grown strong? Have your mental proliferations and attachments decreased each day? Has your mind become clear and joyful? Have you become more thorough in handling affairs?...