Homage to the Triple Gem.
A virtual prostration to 懺公師父. It is Shifu's birthday today, and it is with a weak and repentful mind that I pray for his good health, long live and well being, so he could stay on in this samsara world to benefit more sentient beings.
Without his blessings, and his simple guidance, deep sighted nonsectarian teachings, I would be lost for a longer time.
Here is a short offering of a simple summary discourse by 懺公師父:
Please remember, my fellow students: All phenomena arising in this world - the Abiding Dharma（有為法）, are that with the mind of birth and death （有生滅的心）, are like illusive dreams, bubbles and shadows; The mind with no birth and death （不生不滅的心）is that of a thought that pervades 10,000 years, and 10,000 years with a single thought. （一念萬年，萬年一念）
Our daily practice is to cultivate such mind of no birth and death. Such cultivation will lead to Samadhi （三昧）, meditative absorption（禪定）, one that would liberate us from the cycles of birth and death.
All phenomena arising in this world - Abiding Dharma - are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows; Non Abiding Dharma is that of a thought that pervades 10,000 years, and 10,000 years with a single thought: This is true. This is very important.
Please remember, be aware, my fellow students, that we need to first guide our mind to the state of no birth and death. When we are aware that our mind is preplexed with arising and perishing thoughts （知道心裡生生滅滅）, we practice diligently to guide it to the state of non arising and perishing, no birth and death.
If we could not sustain such state for long, we would observe and contemplate that originally there is no birth. （觀本來是不生）Where birth and arising is like dream, illusion, bubbles and shadows.
It is a good practice to continue such cultivation, with the chanting of the virtuous name of Buddha Amitabha, wholeheartedly, in a most inspiring, sincere and utmost reverance manner.
This is the simultaneous practice of Chan-Pureland （禪淨双修）
Since we could not sustain the state of no births and deaths for long, let's cleanse our mind, let's guide ourselves to that which neither arises nor perishes. When we clear things up, we purify oursleves and quiten our mind. Following this with sincere and revered recitation of Buddha Amitabha, is the simultaneous practice of Chan-Pureland.
Such practice is suitable for us in this period of Dharma-ending generation. We have been discussing for long, yet this is the most important point:
Bring our mind to the state of non-birth-and-death, follow by recitation of the Buddha's name.
