If you do not ascertain what are the actual characteristics of the mind, whatever virtuous trainings you pursue will not hit the point. It is like having the target nearby but shooting the arrow far away. It is like having the thief in your house and making a vigorous search outside.
From the snow-mountain-like master, without the touch of the rays of sunlike devotion, the streamlike blessing will not flow. So exert your mind in the training of devotion.
There is no better fuel than sickness to burn off bad karma. Don't entertain a sad mind or negative views over sicknesses. But see them as signs of the waning of your bad karma, and rejoice over them.
In order to dispel dullness, you should hold and concentrate your mind vigorously, totally, and one-pointedly at the heart.
In order to dispel laxity, excitement, or wildness of mind, you should hold
and concentrate your mind vigorously, totally, and one-pointedly below the naval. When your concentration becomes one-pointed and strong, there will be neither dullness nor excitement in your mind.