The lectures differ, depending on the participants. Master Sheng-yen's "medicine" fits the individual and the occasion. At certain times, his words may seem to contradict the words he spoke earlier. From a higher perspective, however, there are no contradictions. The path of Ch'an is long, and there are many levels of understanding. What holds for one stage of practice may not necessarily hold for another. What holds for someone one day may not necessarily be true for the same person the next day. As Master Sheng-yen addresses the problems of each individual, he blends his answers seamlessly into the commentary, and the thrust of his talk will change to meet every individual's situation. What is abstract theory for one participant may be concrete instruction for another.

Master Sheng-yen once likened his retreat lectures to balls which he throws out to his listeners. To him, all the balls are the same because they all emanate directly from Buddhadharma, but to us they vary. Many we miss altogether; they are invisible. Sometimes a ball is like a flash of light which goes by too quickly to grasp. At other times we grasp a small truth, but cannot hold onto it. Finally, there are balls which hit squarely in the chest and stay put. These are the teachings which are understood and put to use. Some teachings seem out of reach; good ideas to think about, but not to incorporate into practice or life. Other teachings appear like the sublime teachings of Bodhisattvas-esoteric philosophy too amazing to be true. Yet, they are all important. Something you miss may strike the person sitting next to you, even though he or she may appear to be nodding off.

There is a familiar rhythm to the unfolding of the teachings during retreat. Master Sheng-yen stresses different aspects of Buddhadharma as the retreat progresses. He usually encourages people to relax their bodies and minds on the first day of the retreat, as participants must shake off the routine of daily life. Some days he stresses detachment, other days he stresses determination. Some days he emphasizes faith, other days he emphasizes making vows. Careful reading may reveal a pattern which repeats every five or so lectures (this pattern is not written in stone, and in fact, one retreat lasted fourteen days instead of the usual seven).