Practitioners Should Become Accustomed to Turning the Light Inward and Reflecting on Their Own Minds

Thoughts themselves are functions of the conscious mind; they are mental factors (caittas). Discovering a thought means the conscious mind discovering a mental factor—this is introspection. Intelligent people should all be accustomed to introspection, even without realizing that this is what it is. Those accustomed to introspection all possess self-discipline: they are able to examine themselves, supervise themselves, manage themselves, and grow by themselves. Everything happens automatically and consciously, without needing others to watch over or supervise them. Such people are suited to be leaders—at the very least, they do not need to be led by others.

Those who study Buddhism and cultivate practice should be people of awakening, and should all the more constantly introspect and turn the light inward to illuminate their own minds, examining themselves three times daily. Only in this way can they gradually correct their faults, renew themselves, and subdue afflictions.

In this way, whether there are more thoughts of the Buddha or more scattered thoughts in one's mind should be very clear. Introspection takes no effort; the key lies in habit. Once a good habit is formed, it will follow naturally and effortlessly.

If one is not accustomed to introspecting oneself, one will not discover the aspects of one's bodily, verbal, and mental actions that are not in accord with the Dharma, and then one cannot correct oneself, change oneself, or elevate oneself.