- First, see the phenomena and know the mind.
(Perceive phenomena as manifestations of the mind.) - Second, take responsibility for adversity.
(Reflect on one’s difficulties and others, and take responsibility for all.) - Third, practice skillful means to reduce vexations, change thoughts to break attachments.
- Fourth, engage Hua-Tou to break through, stay in the state of no thought and purity.
(Engage the Hua-Tou, break through, break self-attachment, and merge into the non-thinking state of primordial origin.) - Fifth, based on tranquility, engage Hua-Tou again to break the attachment to dharma. Stay stable in the state of no form.
(After achieving enlightenment, continuously engage Hua-Tou to break Second Gate, and merge into the no form state of primordial origin. In form yet no form and detach from form to manifest One-Form-Samadhi.) - Sixth, engage to break ignorance; stay in the state of no dwelling and suchness.
(After breaking Second Gate, continuously practice engaging Hua-Tou to break ignorance. See through and reach the source of the Mind completely. At this stage, the practice of engaging Hua-Tou is accomplished. The practitioner realizes and merges with the non-dwelling state of the primordial origin and enters the path that never separates from the Mind. The Mind functions freely, use the Mind and let go, turning freely, all to manifest One-Move-Samadhi.)
The above six principles are linked with each other. These include the initial practice to achieve enlightenment, the principle for breaking through the Three Gates, and the way to realize the original Mind. Practitioners should not skip over any step. If a practitioner can truly practice step-by-step, with no doubt one will definitely achieve the Great Way.