At some point, through a modest but very regular daily practice of meditation (performed according to the authentic instructions of that qualified teacher), we attain total stillness of the mind: focus that is fixed.

They say that stopping the Great Mistake is like chopping down a big tree. Perfect focus and the ability to stay are like two strong arms. But however strong we may be, we can't simply push a tree down. We need a very sharp ax.

To make meditation perfect, it's not enough to simply mentally stare at something like our breath for a long time. The mind even then is making its constant, deadly error, and we must fix it or come to the end of our life unfulfilled.

As we meditate we need to strive to see the one thing that is simply … missing, clear gone. We need to realize that nothing is anything; that is, even the hotness of a fire never belonged to it. It is I who make fire hot.