Meditation on the breath is common to all Buddhist traditions and foundational to many pathways of practice. However, it is just as common to see students experience problems when meditating on the breath, such as the breath becoming forced or inability to focus on the counting process. 

In this teaching, Guo Gu shares the essence of breath meditation, describes common problems he sees with students, and offers a series of suggestions to help students use this method with more facility and ease.

Silent Illumination is one of Chan Buddhism's core methods, simultaneous combining the twin practices of śamathā (calm abiding) and vipaśyanā (clear awareness). Unlike meditation on the breath, Silent Illumination is a "sudden" method, because using it means direct use of our true, free nature rather than a preliminary practice to get closer to that nature. Silent Illumination has deeply influenced related methods in other traditions of Buddhism, such as shikantaza or "just sitting" from Sōtō Zen. 

Guo Gu draws upon his deep experience with this method to explain exactly what the "methodless method" entails, how to enter into this practice, and its connection to our everyday life.

The huatou method, various translated as "critical phrase," "source of the words," or "that which is before words," is unique to Chan Buddhism among the world's spiritual traditions. The huatou refers to the "punchline" of a gong'an (Jp: kōan), which students meditate on to cultivate a feeling of wonderment towards their mind and the world. When the wonderment reaches a fever pitch, the student may suddenly awaken.

Guo Gu explains the history and practice of this unique method, as well as its special characteristics. Notably, unlike many other methods in Buddhism, the huatou is best suited to use within everyday life, rather than when sitting still on the cushion.