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The
Twenty-Five Preliminary Ways & Means
for Observation of the Mind
From The Great Calm-Observation, Volume Four
Page One
The twenty-five preliminary ways and means for observation of the mind are the subject of the Volume Four of The Great Calm-Observation (C. Mo-ho Chih-Kuan, J. Maka Shikan). They are Chih-I's prescription for preparing for proper spiritual contemplation. The following is a abridged form of Volume Four1.
From The Great Calm-Observation, Volume Four:
The ways & means are called 'skillfulness'. In skillfully cultivating one's practice, with even very little in the way of good spiritual roots2 one will be able to attain understanding and inspiration and entry into the ranks of the Bodhisattvas with a limitless variety of different practices.
The Great Discourse says:
"With just
a little generosity and morality one will be able to exceed the attainments of the
sravakas (spiritual disciples) and pratyekabuddhas (spiritually self-awakened)."
This
is the meaning here.
And the ways & means are 'the harmonizing of conditions'. By being able to attain the cause of harmony one will be able to attain the effect of harmony.
The Long Chapter says:
The life of The One
That Has Come is not born from a single cause or a single condition. It is born
from a limitless number of merits & virtues.
To reveal this skillfulness and ability we discourse on ways & means.
The twenty-five ways & means can be summarized as follows:
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