現在開始打禪七，在禪堂裏不念佛，在佛七裏不參禪。現在是坐禪，行也是禪，坐也是禪，站也是禪，臥也是禪，總之，行住坐臥都是禪。從前，參禪的人沒有什麼念頭，這叫無念。

Now our Chan session is about to begin. In the Chan Hall, we don't recite the Buddha's name; and during the Buddha Recitation Session, we don't practice meditation. Our motto for this Chan retreat is "walking is Chan; sitting is also Chan; standing is Chan; and lying down is also Chan." In general, walking, standing, sitting, and reclining are all Chan. Meditators of old didn't have any thoughts; their state was called "being without thought."

所謂：

一念不生全體現，
六根忽動被雲遮。

When not even one thought arises,
        the entire substance comes into view.
If the six sense organs suddenly react,
        then clouds will cover you.

參禪，就是參一念不生。到了明朝以後，就採用參話頭。現在所有的禪堂，都是參話頭。話頭有很多種，有的參「念佛是誰？」有的參「父母未生以前的本來面目？」有的參「如何是沒有了？」等等。

Investigating Chan means working to the point that "thoughts no longer arise." After the Ming Dynasty, the use of the hua tou or "meditation topic" became popular. Now every meditation hall uses the meditation topic. There are many meditation topics that people can investigate, such as "Who's mindful of the Buddha (Who's reciting the Buddha's name)?" "What was my true identity before my parents bore me?" "What doesn't come to an end?" and so on.

參禪，就是不打其他的妄想。譬如參「念佛是誰？」總想念佛是誰？其實這也是妄想，用一個妄想來控制一切妄想，這是以妄制妄，以毒攻毒的辦法。甚至於念「阿彌陀佛」，也是以妄制妄。就念佛這一念，也是不對的；參「念佛是誰？」這一念，也是沒有的，但是由這一個妄想就能把其他的妄想都制住了，這是參禪的一個道理。

Investigating Chan means not having any idle thoughts. For instance, if we're investigating the topic, "Who's mindful of the Buddha?" then we're always wondering, "Who's mindful of the Buddha?" The question itself is, in fact, a idle thought, but this method uses one idle thought to control all other idle thoughts. This method uses an idle thought to fight other idle thoughts, fire to fight fire. Actually, reciting the name "Amitabha Buddha" is also an example of using one idle thought to fight other idle thoughts. Strictly speaking, the thought of reciting the Buddha's name itself is incorrect. And the thought to investigate, "Who's mindful of the Buddha?" doesn't exist either. Yet one idle thought is able to end all the other idle thoughts. This is one of the fundamental principles of Chan meditation.

參禪的人，「佛來佛斬，魔來魔斬。」不執著一切境界。參禪參到「上不知有天，下不知有地，中不知有人，外不知有物，內不知有心。」到這個時候，與法界合為一體，才能豁然開悟。切記！不要被聲塵所轉，東望西看，心不專一。

Chan meditators should have the attitude, "When the Buddhas come, slay them! When the demons come, slay them!" Don't cling to any states at all. We want to pursue our investigation until "we are no longer aware of heaven above, earth below, or people in between; we are unaware of things outside or the mind inside." That's when we merge and become one with the Dharma Realm; we may suddenly get enlightened! By no means should we let ourselves be disturbed by random noises or gaze around east and west in distraction.

參到無人、無我、無眾生、無壽者的時候，就把生死的根本斷了，便能面見釋迦牟尼佛，那時才知道參禪的好處。

If you investigate to the point where none of the four marks of self, others, living beings, or a life span exist any longer, then the root of birth and death will be severed, and you will come face-to-face with Shakyamuni Buddha; at that time, you'll appreciate the advantages of Chan meditation!

我們從無量劫以來，一直到現在才幸運地遇到打禪七的法門。所以一定要特別專一，至誠懇切，好好用功，不要把寶貴的光陰空過，不要打吃好、穿好、住好的妄想，所謂「一寸時光，一寸命光。」時光和命光一樣地寶貴。

From time without beginning until this very day, only now have we had the good fortune to encounter the Chan meditation method. Thus we must make a special effort to concentrate our minds. We must be particularly sincere and work very hard. Do not let this valuable time pass by in vain. Do not indulge in idle thoughts of eating good food, wearing nice clothes, and living in fine houses. There is a saying that goes, "An instant of time is an instant of life." Time and life are equally valuable.

一寸光陰一寸金，
寸金難買寸光陰；
失落寸金容易得，
光陰過去難再尋。

An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold,
Yet an ounce of gold can hardly buy an instant of time.
If you lose an ounce of gold you can always find another,
But once time goes by, you can't bring it back again.

這就是說，一般的光陰就這樣地寶貴，何況在打禪七期間，光陰更為寶貴。不知道在哪一分鐘？或哪一秒鐘？就是開悟的時候；所以分秒必爭，不可空過。希望參加禪七的各位！要勇猛精進，不可放逸，要忍一切苦，才得一切樂。忍人難忍，受人難受，這才是修道的精神。

This saying describes the value of ordinary time. How much more valuable is the time of our meditation retreat! Who knows in which minute or second you'll get enlightened? Therefore, you must treasure each minute and second of time. Don't let them slip by. I hope every one of you who has joined this Chan session will be courageous and vigorous, and won't be lax. Only if you endure every kind of pain can you finally experience every kind of joy. Endure what people cannot endure, and accept what people cannot accept. This is the true spirit of cultivating the spiritual path.

一九七五年九月開示於三藩市金山聖寺