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The Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra, page 25
This outlines the signs of realization in the three spiritual qualities of:
that are attained by the practitioner1.
Upon distinguishing them, they are not the same. In some, however, there will be the appearance of the work of the devil2 in these three kinds of true signs. When one realizes this and one skillfully distinguishes it, one will not allow it and one will bear a consistent mind. Therefore, if one wants to attain the benefits of these great merits and virtues, one should cultivate the preliminary ways and means for three weeks with diligence and a single mind. If one does not attain these merits and virtues after three weeks, one should do it again without negligence. When one faces up to the obstacles on the path, one's sins will be gradually extinguished as one attains Samadhi and the deep Doors to the Dharma that have never before been presented. Those desiring to practice the ‘Always Walking Samadhi3’ do not yet completely depend upon the ten points described above. However, upon holding on to the idea in the Chapter on The Practice of Peace and Contentment, and cultivating and learning it with a single mind, one will attain the purification of the six senses, see the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, and everywhere one presents oneself one will open up the knowledge and vision of enlightenment and enter into the rank of the Bodhisattvas. One should recognize this by doing as taught above here for a period of three weeks, six times a day, as well as instructing newly training Bodhisattvas who have not yet entered into deep Samadhi.
One begins with the practice of subduing the mind, refuting sin and the heavy obstacles on the Path, and causing the body and mind to be purified so that one attains the flavor that is joy in the Dharma.
If one desires to have a single mind that is ever serene and entering into a deep Samadhi, it is necessary to discard the preliminary practices. Simply depending upon the Chapter on The Practice of Peace and Contentment, one will always enjoy seated meditation and observing that all phenomena are empty like the True Spiritual Aspect of Reality. Without any error arising inside or out, one will have a mind with unceasing thoughts of compassion for living beings. This is the cultivation of Samadhi.
If one just depends upon the preliminary ways and means, one will be hampered with problems. Therefore, once one has grasped the idea, one should allow for one's own power of wisdom. It is impossible to teach of one period of time that is suitable for everyone to reach this. Those that are just beginning cannot skillfully do this yet and so they still depend upon these words and using the preliminary method of cultivating Samadhi.
The End
1. Morality (S. Sila), Mental Concentration (S. Samadhi), Spiritual Insight (S. Prajna): The essence of Buddhist practice
2. The work of the devil: The temptation to use this wisdom and these merits & virtues for selfish ends; to manipulate others by using one's spiritual powers for one's own selfish benefit
3. Always Walking Samadhi: A Samadhi explained in The Great Calm-Observation (C. Moho Chih-Kuan, J. Maka Shikan) that entails worship of the Buddha Amitabha.
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