修習止觀坐禪法要 1.58

1.58

云何名調和？今借近譬，以況斯法。如世間陶師，欲造眾器，先須善巧調泥，令使不彊不懦，然後可就輪繩。亦如彈琴，前應調絃，令寬急得所，方可入弄，出諸妙曲。行者修心，亦復如是。善調五事，必使和適，則三昧易生。有所不調，多諸妨難，善根難發。

What is called harmonization? I will now borrow a familiar metaphor to illustrate this method. It is like a potter in the world who, wishing to make various vessels, must first skillfully blend the clay, making it neither too stiff nor too soft, after which it can be put to the wheel and cord. It is also like playing a lute: one must first tune the strings, making the looseness and tightness properly set, before one can play the tunes and produce various wonderful melodies. The practitioner cultivating the mind is also like this. Skillfully harmonizing the five things, always ensuring they are tempered and well-adjusted, samādhi will easily arise. If anything is unharmonized, many impediments and difficulties will occur, and wholesome roots will be difficult to bring forth.