Practice 2

The Founding Master said, “The quickest expedients for practitioners to attain the power of Cultivation in both action and rest are as follows. First, in all your actions, do nothing that will disturb or devastate your spirit and avoid such sensory conditions. Second, do not entertain craving or greed in responding to any matter but, instead, habituate yourself to having a dispassionate attitude. Third, when you are doing one thing, don’t be distracted by something else, so that you concentrate only on the task at hand. Fourth, in your spare time, pay attention to reciting the Buddha’s name or sitting in meditation.
“The quickest expedients for attaining the power of Inquiry in both action and rest are as follows. First, in all your actions, strive to gain knowledge regarding each par-ticular matter. Second, strive to exchange opinions with teachers and colleagues. Third, if points of doubt arise while you are seeing, listening, or thinking, strive to resolve your doubts by following the proper order of inquiry. Fourth, strive diligently to deepen your acquaintance with our scriptures. Fifth, after deepening your acquaintance with our scriptures, broaden your knowledge and perspective by consulting the scriptures of all previous religious schools.
“The quickest expedients for attaining the power of Choice in both action and rest are as follows. First, once you know something is right, proceed with it even at the risk of your life, regardless of whether it is great or small. Second, once you know something is wrong, desist from it even at the risk of your life, regardless of whether it is great or small. Third, in all your actions, do not be discouraged if the power of Choice does not come readily, but persist in your sincere effort and endlessly accumulate the virtues of practice.”