Chapter Three : Practice 43

The Founding Master said,
“Occasionally, a person who has just had his first arousal of aspiration does not well understand his own spiritual capacity and exerts himself to awaken at once to the great principle through temporary strenuous practice. But with that sort of mind, he will be readily susceptible to serious physical ailments; or when things don’t turn out as he wishes, a backsliding state of mind will arise and he will become estranged from a life of cultivating the Way. This is something to be cautious about. But there are by chance also some persons of the Way who reach the ground of buddhahood in a single jump; these are people of the most superior capacity who have practiced over many lifetimes and numerous kalpas. Those of middling and lesser faculties must instead work hard to accumulate merit over a long period of time. Therefore, the proper sequence is: first, after making a great vow, great belief arises; after great belief, great zeal; after great zeal, great questioning; after great questioning, great dedication; and only after great dedication will a great awakening occur. Nor is awakening and awareness completed all at once, but involve thousands upon thousands of insights.”

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