Reciting Without Reciting Is the Buddha-Recollection Samādhi

True meditative concentration of recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti-samādhi) is achieved by the mind consciousness fully permeating and saturating the manas, and is accomplished by the manas; it is the state of realizing the fundamental mind. At this time there is both meditative concentration and wisdom. Throughout the entire process of practice, the mind consciousness guides the manas, from recollecting the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to recollecting the true suchness of the real Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, until finally the manas accomplishes samādhi: the mind consciousness no longer recollects while the manas recollects, profound meditative concentration arises, and thereafter wisdom is born, whereby one realizes the true mind and self-nature.

Recollecting without recollecting means that the mind consciousness does not recollect, while the manas recollects—the manas recollects automatically, and the mind consciousness cannot control it. Once you understand this principle, you should understand how to apply effort in practice, how to investigate Chan, how to contemplate and engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), and you will then know the principle and process of realizing and awakening to the Path.

Cognizing yet no-thought: although in the end it is entirely the manas recollecting the Buddha, the manas does not recollect the Buddha in the way the mind consciousness does; on the surface, He is unable to recollect the Buddha. In fact, the one who is truly able to recollect the Buddha is also the one who does not recollect the Buddha—without mouth and without mind. What is that thing? Investigate!