“Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, everything: When you know one, you know them all. They all have the same characteristics. It’s kind of like recognizing what characteristics this chicken has. All you have to do is learn to recognize one chicken. Then when you go to different provinces and find other animals like this one, you’ll know that they’re like this chicken. You don’t have to go remembering that those other ones aren’t ducks. They’re chickens. You’re sure of the matter.
When you’re sitting in meditation and a sound comes in, it’s not the case that the sound is disturbing you. When that awareness arises, you’re disturbing the sound. That’s where you have to solve the problem. Discernment will gradually arise. You gradually contemplate and judge things for yourself.
Wherever you get snagged, you undo the problem right there. Your duties while you practice concentration don’t require you to do a lot. Keep the mind one.
Know the breath coming in, the breath going out. When you get worried about something else, focus on the breath again. When you get confused about the breath, not knowing whether it’s coming in or going out, establish your mindfulness all over again.”