The Soul Engineering—X
大智度論卷二十一中記載：
若佛弟子於閑靜處，乃至山林曠野中，善修不淨等觀，厭惡其身，忽生驚怖、及為惡魔作種種惡事，惱亂其心、憂懼轉增，故如來為說八念法，「若心存此八念」，則恐怖即除。此八念為：
念佛：謂修禪觀之人，若遭恐怖障難之時，應念諸佛慈悲，救濟眾生、功德無量，如是一心、念念不捨，怖障即除。
念法：法力廣大，通達無礙、能滅煩惱，如是一心、念念不捨，怖障即除。
念僧：僧是佛之弟子，能修正道、能證聖果、為世福田，如是一心、念念不捨，怖障即除。
念戒：戒是無上菩提之本，能遮諸惡、得安隱處，如是一心、念念不捨，怖障即除。
念捨：捨有二種：施捨，能生大功德。捨煩惱，以此得大智慧。如是一心、念念不捨、怖障即除。
念天：四天王天乃至他化自在天等，果報清淨、利安一切，如是一心，念念不捨，怖障即除。
念出入息：息即鼻中出入之氣，為治散亂之良藥、入禪定之捷徑，如是念念不已、則心不馳散、怖障即除。
念死；死有二種：自死，即報盡而死。他緣死，即遇惡緣而死。此二種死，從生以來，常與身俱、無可避處，如是一心、念念不已、怖障即除。精進用功之行者，於此若能穿透識心，一直到達自己的心源…自己覺性、真如的本性，沒有停止中斷，則能自然通達開悟。
修學道上 共勉之
資料來源：心靈甘露(二)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平
The Soul Engineering—X
Volume 21 of the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom says:
If Buddhist disciples cultivate the asubhanupassin (the impurity view) in a quiet place or even in the wild, get disgusted with their own bodies, and suddenly become scared, this is because demons have done some evil deeds to disturb the disciples’ minds and make them more worried and scared. So the Tathagata lectured on the Eight Thoughts for them. If people have these Eight Thoughts in mind, they won’t be scared anymore.
The Eight Thoughts are as follows:
(1) Being mindful of Buddhas: If meditators encounter terrifying things or obstacles, they should be mindful of the Buddhas’ compassion, rescuing sentient beings, and boundless merits. If they could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(2) Being mindful of the Dharma: The power of the Dharma is vast, can penetrate things without hindrances, and can help sever afflictions. If meditators could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(3) Being mindful of Sanghas: Sanghas are the disciples of the Buddha and can cultivate the right path, can confirm the sacred fruit, and can bring blessings to the world. If meditators could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(4) Being mindful of the precepts: Precepts are the root of the supreme Bodhi, can cover up all evils, and can bring meditators to a peaceful place. If meditators could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(5) Being mindful of abandoning: There are two kinds of abandoning. One is giving, which can bring great merits. The other is abandoning afflictions in order to gain great wisdom. If meditators could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(6) Being mindful of the heavens: In the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings or even the Para-nirmita-vasa-vartin, the karmas are pure and can benefit all. If meditators could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(7) Being mindful of the breath: Breath is the air entering and exiting in the nose. It is a good cure for a scattered mind and is the shortcut for entering Samadhi. If meditators could be mindful unceasingly, the mind won’t be scattered and the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately.
(8) Being mindful of death: There are two kinds of death. One is that someone has finished his retribution and dies. The other is that someone dies due to some bad karma. These two kinds cannot be avoided, because they are always with us after our birth. If meditators could be mindful single-mindedly and unceasingly, the terror and obstacles will disappear immediately. If diligent practitioners can penetrate into their minds and even to the origin of them, and if their perception nature and the nature of true suchness do not cease, then they will naturally penetrate into things and get enlightened.
On the path of cultivation, let us encourage each other.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. II), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.