November 12^th, 2017

You should realize that this is the last day of your life. Have you prepared yourself for today's matter?

You cannot prepare by studying the sutras and teachings, you cannot prepare by reciting from your Chan notebooks, and you cannot prepare by maintaining a clever mind.

Precisely at this time when you are dying and all confused, forgetting instantly everything you remembered in the past — at this point is it necessary that you establish yourself in the ground of truth, and it is no use trying to do it in a superficial manner.

Right away, for twenty-four hours a day, you should all prepare for it by ceasing and resting. You must completely let go of all worldly concerns and sit totally still in the "dry wood hall." You must die a turn and then in this death establish everything in the whole universe.