14. The life of the spirit comes from the prior death of the mind. If people
can kill the mind, the original comes alive. Killing the mind does not mean
quietism, it means undivided concentration. Buddha said, "Place the mind
on one point, and everything can be done."
15. If the mind tends to run off, then unify it by means of the breath; if the
breath tends to become rough, then use the mind to make it fine. If you do
this, how can the mind fail to stabilize?
16. Generally speaking, the two afflictions of oblivion and distraction just
require quieting practice to continue unbroken day after day until complete
cessation and rest occur spontaneously. When you are not sitting quietly,
you may be distracted without knowing it; but once you are aware of it,
distraction itself becomes a mechanism for getting rid of distraction.
17. As for unawares oblivion and oblivion of which you become aware,
there is an inconceivable distance between them. Unawares oblivion is real
oblivion; oblivion that you notice is not completely oblivious. Clear light is
in this.
18. Distraction means the spirit is racing; oblivion means the spirit is
unclean. Distraction is easy to cure; oblivion is hard to heal. Using the
metaphor of illness, one that involves pain or itch can be treated with
medicine, but oblivion is a symptom of paralysis, where there is no feeling.
