Why Should We Cultivate?
修行之要，在於對治自我煩惱習氣。
習氣少一分，功夫則進一分。
如果行者發現，修行愈精勤，習氣愈發者，乃是只知依事相修持。倘時時觀心、止心，識得我此身心，全屬幻妄，求我心之實體實性，了不可得。如此迴光返照，當能剋除己心之妄情執念。
二六時中端心正念，遇境逢緣，既無有我，何有因境因人而生煩惱之事？如此覺照，妄念自不可發，乃根本之解決方法。
如尚不能諦了我空，當依如來所示五停心觀（附註）而為對治。以此五法，調停其心，令心安住，不隨境轉也。
所謂五停心觀：
多貪眾生不淨觀
多瞋眾生慈悲觀
多散眾生數息觀
愚癡眾生因緣觀
多障眾生念佛觀
在凡夫地，誰無煩惱，佛法為利益一切眾生而示現在世間，普融於世間及整個法界，對任何眾生都不存偏見。人能從佛法中獲得利益，其他眾生也能從佛法中獲得利益。善人在佛法中成就，悔過之人同樣能在佛法中解脫。
註：五停心觀
一、不淨觀，是觀察一切身器境界皆屬不淨之相，以停止貪欲之法。貪著心多之人修之。
二、慈悲觀，是觀察一切眾生痛苦可憐之相，以停止瞋恚之法。瞋恚多之人修之。
三、因緣觀，觀十二因緣，是觀察一切法皆因緣生，前因後果，三世相續之理，以停止愚痴之法。愚痴多之人修之。
四、第一種界分別觀，向諸法而分別六界或十八界，停止我見之法。我見多之人修之。第二種念佛觀，是觀察佛身相好，功德莊嚴，以停止業障。
五、數息觀，是觀察呼吸出入之相，每一出入，皆暗數自一至十，計呼吸數以停止散亂之法。散心多之人修之。
資料來源：心靈甘露(四)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平。
Why Should We Cultivate?
The key to cultivation is to manage our afflictions and habitual tendencies. The less bad habits we have, the more progress we will make.
If a practitioner finds out that the more diligently he cultivates, the more bad habits he has, this is because he is cultivating according to the phenomena. If he can often observe and cease his mind and know that both the body and the mind are false and illusory, and that the entity and real nature of the mind are not attainable, then, with such a reflection, he will be able to subdue the false feelings and adherences of his mind.
If we can keep an upright mind twenty-four hours a day, then when something happens, we won’t give rise to afflictions since we are already selfless. With such a reflection, wishful thinking will not arise. This is a basic solution.
If we still cannot understand the selflessness, we should follow the Five Stoppings and Mind Observations instructed by the Buddha to deal with it. These five approaches can mediate and calm the mind which will not change with situations.
The Five Stoppings and Mind Observations are:
1.When sentient beings are greedy, they should observe impurity.
2.When sentient beings are full of anger and hatred, they should observe compassion.
3.When the minds of sentient beings are scattering, they should observe breathing.
4.When sentient beings are stupid, they should observe affinities.
5.When sentient beings are suffering a lot of obstacles, they should observe being mindful of Buddhas.
Who does not suffer afflictions in the mundane world? In order to benefit sentient beings, the Buddhist Dharma manifests in this world, universally blending in this world as well as the whole Dharma realm without any prejudice towards anyone. People can benefit from the Buddhist Dharma, and so can other living beings. Good people can make achievements from the Buddhist Dharma, and those who repent also can get liberated from it.
NOTE: The Five Stoppings and Mind Observations are explained as follows:
1.The Observation of Impurity: This is to see all the organs inside the body as dirty ones to stop greed. Those who are greedy should cultivate this.
2.The Observation of Compassion: This is to look at the painful, pitiful situations of all sentient beings to stop anger and hatred. Those who easily tend to get angry and disgusted should cultivate this.
3.The Observation of Affinities: This is to observe the twelve affinities and know that all dharmas arise from affinities and that causes and conditions persist for three lifetimes in order to stop stupidity. Those who are ignorant should cultivate this.
4.The first part is The Differentiation Observation: This is to turn towards dharmas and differentiate the Six Realms or the Eighteen Realms to stop one’s opinions. Those with too many self-opinions can cultivate this. The second one is The Observation of Being Mindful of Buddhas, which is to get rid of one’s karmic obstacles by seeing the magnificent appearances and merits of Buddhas.
5.The Observation of Breathing: This is to pay attention to the inhalation and exhalation and silently count from one to ten for each breathing so that the scattering mind will cease. Those with a scattering mind should cultivate this.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. IV), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.