The Living Method of Turning Around the Light / 回光活法


When you practice the teaching of turning around the light, you need not give up your ordinary occupation. The ancients said, “Deal with matters when they happen; see through things when they occur.” If you remain mindful in the way when managing affairs, the light is not disturbed by things, then it turns around naturally. This is the formless way of turning around the light. Since even the formless way works, it is more so for the true method of turning around the light.

回光循循然行去,不要废弃正业。古人云:“事来要应过,物来要识破。”子以正念治事,即光不为物转,光即自回。此时时无相之回光也,尚可行之,而况有真正著相回光乎。

When dealing with things, no matter what they are, if you can turn the light inward, and trace it to the source, from moment to moment without any attachment to people or yourself, then it is turning around the light anytime anywhere. This is the finest practice.

日用间,能刻刻随事返照,不着一毫人我相。便是随地回光,此第一妙用。

In the early morning, it is best if you can clear all entanglements from your mind and sit quietly for one or two hours. During the day, whenever you are performing other activities or dealing with people, continue using this “turning around” technique, then there is no interruption. If you practice in this way for two or three months, the realized ones in Heaven will surely come to attest to your experience.

静坐一、二时最妙。凡应事接物,只用返照法,便无一刻间断。如此行之,三月两月,天上诸真,必来印证矣。