A fly trying to get out of a house buzzes around and bumps into windows and screens. It is active, but it does not get anywhere. It is similar to the practice of the unenlightened. Deeply enlightened practitioners seem relaxed, even lazy, but they are actually working smoothly and steadily.

Do not feel sorry for the fly. Compared to someone who knows where the door is, the fly looks stupid, but at least it is making an effort to get out. Usually, people are not even as determined as this fly. Sooner or later, it will find an exit. The fly knows that it wants to get out, and it has faith that there is an exit. All it has to do is work hard. Do you have faith in yourself and the method? Are you working hard? Right now during this retreat, you may be like the fly, but after the retreat, will you still put effort into your practice? Probably, as you sit down in the evening to meditate, a friend will call and say, "Let's go out." You will go to Radio City Music Hall and meditate on the Rockettes instead of working on your method.

I cannot offer you a mani pearl, nor will I explain it to you. You must come to accept the sudden enlightenment Dharma on your own. It takes confidence. If you have the confidence necessary to practice hard, you will be able to accept Ch'an Dharma, and eventually you will reveal the mani pearl of Buddha's wisdom.

In truth, however, there is no such thing as a mani pearl. Yung-chia clarifies this in the next stanza.

They clearly see that there is not a thing,
Neither person nor Buddha.
The numerous worlds in the great chiliocosm are bubbles in the sea,
All sages and saints are like lightning flashes.