The Spiritual Treasure of Concentration and Contemplation Sutra

Translated by Akrishi, 2 Sept 2003

Introduction

夫欲修道，先能捨事。

Desire to cultivate Tao,
first be able to part with things.

外事多絕，無與忤心。

With outside things mostly severed,
not to interfere with the mind.

然後安坐，內觀心起。

Then sit peacefully,
and inwardly observe the rising of thoughts.

其次有貪著、浮遊亂想、亦盡滅除。

Besides that, all craving attachment, wandering of mind, and fancy thoughts should be annihilated and eliminated.

晝夜勤行，須臾不替。

Do it day and night diligently,
not to discard for even a moment.

唯滅動心，不滅照心。

Only annihilate the movement of the mind,
but not the reflective mind.

但凝空心，不凝住心。

But freeze the empty mind,
and not the mind dwelling (on thoughts).

不依一法，而心常住。

Not rely on one method,
yet mind always dwells.

然則凡心躁競，其次初學息心甚難，或息不得，暫停還失。

    Yet when the mind is competingly impetuous,
    besides for beginners finding it difficult to cease the mind,
    or ceasing the mind is not gained,
    just pause and get lost.

去留交戰，百體流行。

Battling between staying and going,
until flowing throughout the body.

久久精思，方乃調熟。

After thoughts get refined for a long time,
then (mind is) familiarzed to regulation.

勿以暫收不得，遂廢千生之業。

Don't because of not gaining collection for the moment,
thus abandon the undertaking of thousand lives.

少得靜己，

Having gained little silence,

則於行立坐臥之時、

then no matter during walking, standing, sitting or lying,

涉事之處、喧鬧之所，

or during circumstances involved in things,
or in noisy and clamorous place,

皆作意安。

rest your mind at ease.

有事無事，常若無心。處靜處喧，其志唯一。

    Whether having things or not having things (to do),
    always as if nothing in the mind.
    Whether in silent or noisy places,
    the will is only this one.

若束心太急，則又成病，氣發狂顛，是其候也。

    If restraining the mind too tight,
    then will become sick,
    pneuma getting wild and mad,
    is the symptom.

心若不動，又須放任。

If mind is not lively,
then needs to let go.

寬急得所，自恒調適。

Loose or tight each have its place,
be constantly self-regulating to one's comfort.

制而不著，放而不動，處喧無惡，涉事無惱者，此是真定。

    Restrict and it does not adhere,
    let go and it does not move;
    No dislike of noisy places,
    not irritated when involved in things,
    this is real steadiness (of mind).

不以涉事無惱，故求多事。不以處喧無惡，強求就喧。

    Don't seek more things to do,
    because of not being irritated when involved in things.
    Don't force to be in noisy places,
    because of not feeling bad in noisy places.

以無事為真宅，有事為應跡。

Take no things (to do) as our real home,
and having things (to do) as trace of response.

若水鏡之為鑒，則隨物而現形。

Like the mirrored reflection from a water surface,
that takes shape according to the things (mirrored).

善巧方便，唯能入定。

All good technics and convenient ways,
are only for entering into steadiness (of mind).

慧發遲速則不由人。勿令定中急急求慧。急則傷性，傷則無慧。

    The development of spiritual wisdom, whether fast or slow, is beyond one's control.
    Don't try to seek spiritual wisdom hastily in steadiness (of mind).
    Our (born) nature will be hurt in haste,
    and when hurt, then no spiritual wisdom.

若定不求慧，而慧自生，此名真慧。

    If not seeking spiritual wisdom in steadiness (of mind),
    but spiritual wisdom is self-generated,
    this is called true spiritual wisdom.

慧而不用，實智者愚。

With spiritual wisdom but not use it,
the wise man is indeed foolish.

益資定慧，雙美無極。

Benefit and furnish steadiness (of mind) with spiritual widsom,
is double good of no ends.

若定中念想，多感眾邪，妖精百魅，隨心應見。

    If thoughts and mental images in steadiness (of mind),
    are many sensation of numerous evils,
    and bewitching monster with hundreds of enchantments,
    that follow our mind and were seen accordingly.

所見天尊，諸仙真人，是其祥也。

Then the supreme celestials, various immortals and man of reality seen are the auspicious ones.

唯令定心之上，豁然無覆。定心之下，曠然無基。

    Only order the mind to settle on them.
    Then mind clear up and not overwhelmed.
    With the mind settled,
    then board-minded without basic (intention).

舊業日銷，新業不造。

Old karma [i.e. fruits of action] consumed day by day,
and new karma not created.

無所罣礙，迥脫塵籠。

Nothing to hinder,
revert and escape from the cage of the dusty (world).

行而久之，自然得道。

Doing it for long,
then naturally gain Tao.

夫得道之人，凡有七候。

Those man who have gained Tao,
usually have seven symptoms:

一者，心得定易，覺諸塵漏。

Firstly, mind has gained steadiness easily,
be aware of various outflow (of awareness to the) dusty (world).

二者，宿疾普銷，身心輕爽。

Secondly, chronic disease generally destroyed,
mind-body (feels) light and exhilarating.

三者，填補夭損，還年復命。

Thirdly, fill up premature end,
return to destined lifespan.

四者，延數萬歲，名曰仙人。

Fourthly, extend life to ten thousand years,
named as immortal man.

五者，鍊形為氣，故曰真人。

Fifthly, refine form to be prana,
named as man of reality.

六者，鍊氣成神，名曰神人。

Sixthly, refine prana to accomplish spirit,
named as divine man.

七者，鍊神合道，名曰至人。

Seventhly, refine spirit to be one with Tao,
named as extreme man.

其於鑒力，隨候益明。

And his percipient power,
becomes more and more clear with symptoms (manifested).

得至道成，慧乃圓備。

Until gaining accomplishment of Tao,
then spiritual wisdom is fully equipped.

若乃久學定心，身無一候，促齡穢質，色謝方空，自云慧覺，又稱成道者，求道之理，實所未然。

    If one fix his mind after lasting practice,
    but body has not (shown any) one symptom,
    with hurried duration (of practice) and of filthy disposition,
    and (reach) emptiness only when form withers,
    yet call himself (gaining) awareness of spiritual wisdom,
    and claim to be man of Tao accomplished.
    The way of seeking Tao,
    is in fact not (like) this.

頌曰：

The eulogy says:

智起生於境，火發生於緣。

Intelligence arises born with scenes,
and fire ignited born from cause of action.

各具真種性，承流失道源。

Each are equipped with real seed nature,
but lose the origin of Tao when bearing stream (of thought).

起心欲息知，心起知更煩。

Thought arises desiring to cease awareness,
yet awareness more bothered with rising thoughts.

了知性本空，知則眾妙門。

Apprehend and know our (born) nature is basically void,
then awareness (become) gate of numerous wonders.