High mountains, deep waters, and a dense jungle of grass--
However much you try, the way to proceed remains unclear !
To alleviate this sense of frustration, listen to the chirping of cicadas.
This picture illustrates the feelings of someone who is practicing meditation for the first time. He is compared to a man in search of an ox who has just come outdoors in order to find it and then catch it with a rope. All of us who claim to be cultivating the Way usually have to pass through the difficult stage described here.
What are the pleasure we find in living in the world ? These are to eat well, to wear good clothes, to have wealth, a good reputation, and a family, and to be able to sleep at ease. These are all basic physical concerns. However, what we call "cultivation of the Way" runs counter to these concerns. To live in the ordinary world is like flowing along with the current of a river. But to cultivate the Way is like swimming upstream against the direction of the current. Since beginningless time, the body has become accustomed to certain comforts. Now one suddenly decides to cultivate the Way through the practice of meditation.
And what is this like at the beginning ? It is similar to finding yourself seated in front of a silver mountain or an iron wall. Thus, you encounter "high mountain, deep waters, and a dense jungle of grass." In the midst of all this, "however much you try, the way to proceed remains unclear." At this point you often wonder if the meditation is actually progressing at all. You start to consider various different ways of improving the practice. You find yourself at a complete loss as to what you should do.
After struggling and exerting themselves in this way for a while some people reach such a point of exhaustion that they consider giving up altogether. Although they have tried to practice, they cannot see any progress at all. But one should definitely not give up at this stage. Others will try "to alleviate this sense of frustration" in turning to another kind of practice. They may start to pray to the Buddha, repeat the Buddha's name, or recite some sutras. In such ways, their sense of frustration is alleviated somewhat. But actually they are just listening "to the chirping of cicadas." This does not mean that they literally go outside and listen to cicadas. It refers to their engaging in all those activities other than the practice of meditation in order to remove their feelings of frustration.