掌握原理的好處，就在於無論使用任何方法的時候，你都能夠按照這樣的流程去進行；掌握不了原理的時候，你往往特別執著於某種方法，實證不靈活，你是被這些方法牽著走的。因此，掌握了這些實證的原理之後，實證會變得非常自在，它是能夠和生活緊密地結合在一起的。也就是說，“佛法在世間，不離世間覺”，它是和生活緊密結合的。

掌握了原理之後，在生活中你想不實證都不可能——你睜眼去看那棵樹的時候，你和一般人看的就不一樣，因為你知道它是如來藏生成的，如來藏的各種特徵它都有；你也知道欲界定生成的和禪定生成的事物，它都含有欲界定的特徵，含有禪定的特徵，你能夠通過這些特徵去實證。

你看到那個樹葉綠色的時候，你會不由自主地體驗那個綠色。而一般人看到那個綠色，他的體驗是“哎呦，這個綠色好啊”；有的人不喜歡綠色，他的體驗是“哎呀，綠色不好！”他的體驗就是好與不好，喜歡與厭惡，他是在這上面用功的。你和他們的不同之處就在於，你看到這個樹葉的時候，不去體驗好與不好，而會去想：“這個是欲界定展現出來的，通過這個能證入欲界定的……”然後你看這個綠色的時候，就要不由自主地專門看一下。所以說，瞭解了原理之後，你的生活就完全改變了，你想不實證也是不可能的，不由自主地就會去實證。

這樣有什麼好處呢？能達到夢中實證！夢中就是完全按照潛意識暗示進行的——白天看到這個樹葉的時候，你不由自主地端詳這個樹葉，夢中也是這樣的；白天看到那個牆上紋理的裂縫的時候，你不由自主地看那個微細的裂縫，那麼夢中你照樣的也這樣看的……這就是瞭解原理之後，你就能夠解決白天實證和夢中實證的問題。夢中實證解決了，生死才解決，夢沒有解決，生死是根本解決不了的。

無論你去實證佛家，道教，還是什麼教啊，等等，只要是修行的法門，夢這一關是必須要解決的。睡覺（夢）這一關解決不了，你就沒有辦法解決生死問題。因此，我們掌握原理後會有這樣一個好處，它能夠讓你隨時隨地都在實證，不由自主地去實證，自然地去實證。

（輯錄自微信公眾號《實證與健康》2023年5月24日發佈的文章）

The advantage of mastering principles lies in the ability to apply any method within a consistent, logical framework. Without this foundational understanding, there’s a risk of becoming overly reliant on specific techniques, leading to a lack of flexibility in practice. Therefore, understanding these principles not only facilitates a more adaptable approach to practice but also aligns with the concept that “Buddhism is interwoven with everyday life, inseparable from everyday awareness.”

With these principles internalized, their application in daily life becomes unavoidable. For example, when you look at a tree, your understanding goes beyond the ordinary; you see it as a manifestation of the Tathagatagarbha, complete with its inherent characteristics. This insight extends to recognizing the attributes of objects shaped by the realms of desire and samadhi, enabling an empirical practice through these characteristics.

When you see the green of leaves, you experience the color directly. Unlike others who might react with appreciation or dislike, saying, “Wow, nice green” or “I don’t like this green,” your perspective diverges. You don’t judge the color’s aesthetic but reflect, “This illustrates the realm of desire, offering insights into that realm through observation...” As a result, your attention to the color becomes more deliberate and automatic. Grasping the underlying principles changes your approach to life, compelling you to have empirical practice, often beyond conscious choice.

The benefit? It enables empirical practice in dreams. Dreams follow subconscious cues—just as you instinctively examine a leaf or wall cracks by day, you do so in dreams. Grasping these principles bridges awake and dream states for Zazen meditation. Addressing dream meditation is key to resolving life and death questions; without it, the core challenges of life and death are insurmountable.

Regardless of the practice—be it Buddhism, Taoism, or others—confronting dreams is crucial. Failing to navigate this aspect means life and death puzzles remain unsolved. Mastering these principles, therefore, offers a profound advantage: it facilitates constant, effortless, and natural empirical practice, pivotal for meditation advancement.

(Adapted from the WeChat public account “Meditation and Health” on May 24, 2023)