Regulate the Mind 制心 from Collection of Rain Blossoms

Mind and heart are one and the same in Eastern traditions. Image: Shutterstock.

Many people feel their minds are always busy. Thoughts come one after another, like waves that never stop. It can seem impossible to calm them down or keep them still. But there are actually two ways to work with the mind—each with its own effect.

Two Ways to Work with the Mind

The first way is to press thoughts and feelings down so they don’t move the heart. This can help beginners for a while—it might bring a little quiet to the mind. But it’s not the lasting way. Each thought is stopped as soon as it appears, so it doesn’t grow into more. The trouble is, as soon as the effort eases, even for a moment, the thoughts come rushing back stronger than before. Then the mind grows restless again and peace is lost. This is called “blank mind practice,” because the mind is being forced into emptiness. It may seem to work for a bit, but it’s not the true path.

The second way works differently. Instead of trying to block every thought, the mind is given one steady focus so it doesn’t wander. For someone walking the Buddha’s path, whenever a stray thought appears, the mind is gently brought back to the wish to learn and live the teachings. This is the right way. It’s called “understanding through practice,” because steady thought is used to understand the truth and shape the way of living.

The mind is strong—like a flood. If it’s only dammed up, the pressure will eventually break through. But if it’s guided into the right channel, it will flow steadily and clearly, like a river moving in its true course. That’s how the mind becomes calm and clear.

Even so, these two methods still belong to the Hinayana path. The Mahayana view goes deeper. It says that if all things are empty by nature and nothing truly remains, then what is there to control? And where could the mind really rest?

So in the Mahayana way, the mind is not fought or forced into place. Instead, it is gently brought back to its true nature. This way is more complete, more peaceful, and more free.

制心

雨花集

濟公活佛

許多人認為心緒繁興，思潮起伏，無從制攝？不知制心之法有二：

一、按捺其心不動，此法對初學者有助，然非究竟之法。因此法是念來時壓制令其靜止，使其不起念。此雖對初學者有助，可以暫時按捺。但對按捺之力稍懈，則會反抗復原，不可收拾。此種制心法，名叫「括達空」，非所宜也。

二、將心制於一處，不起二念。如學佛者， 別念一起，即將心制於學佛一途，此乃正法。名叫「思維修」。因為心如洪水，塞不使流，不是永遠辦法。導之使匯一處，根本制止泛濫。

以上二法，仍屬小乘而已。大乘之法，如本來無一物，則又有何所制，又何有「一處」？而大乘之將心帶到自性去，則又更究竟得多矣。

This translated text is a chapter from Collection of Rain Blossoms, a scripture written by JiGong Living Buddha in the 1900s through spirit writing. Here the link to the original Chinese source.

If you are interested in other chapters of this book, here is the link to the table of contents.