Platform Sutra page 219;
The Master instructed the assembly, “Good Knowing Advisors, what is meant by ‘sitting in Ch’an?’ In this unobstructed and unimpeded Dharma-door, the mind’s thoughts do not arise with respect to any good or evil external state. That is what ‘sitting’ is. To see the unmoving self-nature inwardly is Ch’an. “Good Knowing Advisors, what is meant by ‘Ch’an concentration?’ Being separate from external marks is ‘Ch’an.’ Not being confused inwardly is ‘concentration.’ “If you become attached to external marks, your mind will be confused inwardly. If you are separate from external marks, inwardly your mind will be unconfused. The original nature is naturally pure, in a natural state of concentration. Confusion arises merely because states are seen and attended to. If the mind remains unconfused when any state is encountered, that is true concentration"
Platform Sutra Page 206-207;
The Master instructed the assembly: “Good Knowing Advisors, the Single Conduct Samadhi is the constant practice of maintaining a direct, straightforward mind in all places, whether one is walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. As the Vimalakirti Sutra says, ‘The straight mind is the Bodhimandala; the straight mind is the Pure Land.’ “Do not speak of straightness with the mouth only, while the mind and practice are crooked, nor speak of the Single Conduct Samadhi without maintaining a straight mind. Simply practice keeping a straight mind and have no attachment to any dharma. “The confused person is attached to the marks of dharmas, while holding to the Single Conduct Samadhi and saying, ‘I sit unmoving and falseness does not arise in my mind. That is the Single Conduct Samadhi.’ Such an interpretation serves to make him insensate and obstructs the causes and conditions for attaining the Way. “Good Knowing Advisors, the Way must penetrate and flow. How can it be impeded? If the mind does not dwell in dharmas, the Way will penetrate and flow. The mind that dwells in dharmas is in self-bondage. To say that sitting unmoving is correct is to be like Shariputra who sat quietly in the forest but was scolded by Vimalakirti.”
“Good Knowing Advisors, there are those who teach people to sit looking at the mind and contemplating stillness, without moving or arising. They claim that it has merit. Confused men, not understanding, easily become attached and go insane. There are many such people. Therefore you should know that teaching of this kind is a great error.”
Platform Sutra Page 125;
“Good Knowing Advisors, deluded people recite with their mouths, but while they recite they live in falsehood and in error. When there is practice in every thought, that is the true nature. You should understand this dharma, which is the Prajna dharma; and cultivate this conduct, which is the Prajna conduct. Not to cultivate is to be a common person, but in a single thought of cultivation, you are equal to the Buddhas.”
Platform Sutra page 372;
Hsieh Chien said, “The Virtuous Dhyana Masters at the capital all say that to master the Way one must sit in Dhyana meditation and practice concentration, for without Dhyana concentration, liberation is impossible. I do not know how the Master explains this dharma. The Master said, “The Way is awakened to from the mind. How could it be found in sitting? The Diamond Sutra states that to say that Tathagata either sits or lies down is to walk a deviant path. Why? The clear pure Dhyana of the Tathagata comes from nowhere and goes nowhere and is neither produced nor extinguished. The Tathagata’s clear pure ‘sitting’ is the state of all dharmas being empty and still. Ultimately there is no certification; even less is there any ‘sitting.’”
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Summarized;
"...the mind’s thoughts do not arise with respect to any good or evil external state. That is what ‘sitting’ is."
"If the mind remains unconfused when any state is encountered, that is true concentration"
"When there is practice in every thought, that is the true nature."
"Simply practice keeping a straight mind and have no attachment to any dharma."
......
Also found this through a google search but haven't been able to find it in the mentioned sutra yet (it's supposedly somewhere in the Vimalakirti Sutra). Thought I'd add it anyway since the story of Shariputra got mentioned;
I remember in the past when I was meditating at the foot of a tree in the forest, Vimalakirti came up to me and said, ‘Shariputra, this isn’t meditation. Meditation means not letting your body or mind appear in the Three Realms (ed. Desire, Form, and Formlessness). Meditation means conducting your life without leaving the stillness of samadhi. Meditation means engaging in ordinary activities without giving up the teachings of the Way. Meditation means not letting your mind dwell internally or externally. Meditation means cultivating the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment while remaining unmoved by any views. Meditation means entering nirvana without putting an end to passion. If you can meditate like this, you are ready for the approval of a buddha.’
Submitted May 17, 2019 at 03:01AM by RealityWarper01 http://bit.ly/2HoqtnS
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