為什麼要修行？為了求智慧，所以要修行。因為愚癡，就盡做顛倒事，在輪迴中受苦，不得自在。有了智慧，才不會被魔境所轉，也不會認賊做子，更不會一邊修行，一邊起貪心，而能認識得清清楚楚。因為有擇法眼，何者是正法，何者是邪法，一目了然，不會有魚目混珠的現象。

Why do we cultivate? It's because we seek wisdom that we cultivate. Because we are stupid and we exclusively do inverted things, we suffer in samsara and cannot gain freedom and ease. If we had wisdom, we would not be disturbed by the states of demons, nor would we look upon thieves as our sons. We wouldn't cultivate on the one hand, and indulge in greed on the other. We would distinguish things clearly. With the Dharma-selecting vision, we would be able to identify at a single glance the proper Dharma and the deviant Dharma. We wouldn't mistake fish eyes for pearls.

怎麼樣能開智慧？唯一的辦法，就是參禪打坐，就可以轉識成智；或者誦〈楞嚴咒〉，這是開智慧的咒；或誦《楞嚴經》，這是開悟的經，開悟之後，智慧就現前；或者研究三藏十二部，所謂「深入經藏，智慧如海。」

How can we obtain wisdom? The only method is to practice Chan meditation. That way, we can turn our consciousness into wisdom. We can also recite the Shurangama Mantra, the mantra for opening wisdom. Alternately, we can recite the Shurangama Sutra, the Sutra for bringing enlightenment. When we become enlightened, our wisdom will appear. Or, we can investigate and study the Three Treasuries and Twelve Divisions of the Canon. That is to say, we should "deeply fathom the treasury of the Sutras and have wisdom like the sea."