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The Great Sutra Treasury - Southern Transmission 12
Liệt tuệ is the state of “weak, impoverished” insight, so it does not bring about peace; càn tuệ is dry, useless understanding, which is also not true insight. If we only hold on to the belief that “by practicing, we will surely gain great insight” without actually practicing right now, our insight will become dry and gradually wither away, while happiness and peace let us know clearly the strength or weakness of our insight.
Practice must be based on the Threefold Training: precepts, concentration, and insight. Here, precepts are not prohibitive commandments, but are mindfulness – guarding the six sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind), recognizing “guests” that come to the door of the mind in order to ensure inner security. From mindfulness arises stable concentration; from concentration arises bright insight. These three interpenetrate each other; every mindful breath contains precepts, concentration, and insight, and every peaceful step is the mark of healthy insight.