Using the Śūraṅgama Mantra to Cultivate Samādhi in Motion

Question: Using the stunned state (leng shen) to cultivate the power of samādhi in motion is indeed a skillful means, but most people find it hard to sustain. This disciple's experience is that by using the stunned state as an entry point, then not letting language and words appear in the mind, watching over it and maintaining it, through gradual training the duration of the stunned state will lengthen. Is this actually the same as watching the huatou?

Answer: This state is precisely the state without language and words. At first, the time one can enter it is short, but through continuous training, the duration can be extended, and the power of meditative concentration (samādhi) can deepen, so that investigating becomes more effective.

This state is not merely similar to watching the huatou; it is in fact investigating the huatou. In investigating, there is the functioning of the manas's deliberation (manana), with the mind consciousness doing less analysis, or no analysis, cooperating with the manas's deliberation—shifting the task of deliberation onto the shoulders of the manas, letting the manas shoulder some of it. Then, when the conditions of a certain season and circumstance correspond, the manas and the mind consciousness simultaneously realize the dharma. If it is not done this way—after the mind consciousness thinks and analyzes, and then hands it over to the manas—the manas will not necessarily accept or acknowledge it. Within a short time, the manas absolutely cannot accept or acknowledge it, because this is not the manas's direct perception (pratyakṣa) discernment. The mind consciousness has not brought out all the evidence, and it is not complete direct-perception discernment either, so the manas does not accord with it, and therefore the dharma cannot be realized.

Although the manas's wisdom is not strong—much lower than that of the mind consciousness—He is the master consciousness. For all dharmas, the manas has the final say and makes the decisions. If He does not nod to something, it does not count. It is like the head of a household: although he is somewhat less wise than the other family members, all the family's affairs are decided by this person. If you want this person to accept and decide on a matter, you must persuade Him with all kinds of convincing reasons and evidence; once He believes it, He can then decide. The best way is to let Him personally understand the matter, to be present on the scene and see it with His own eyes. Faced with the facts, the moment He sees it, He can believe on the spot, and then He will readily make the choice, make the decision, and acknowledge the matter.