A carpenter named Zi Qin explained the process behind his exquisitely crafted bell racks.
Before beginning my work, I would conserve my essence and energy by adopting a vegetarian diet to calm my mind.
After three days, I no longer thought of rewards, titles, or salary. After five days, I became indifferent to praise or criticism of my skill. After seven days, my mind was undisturbed by external matters, and I even forgot my own physical form. Only then would I go into the mountains and forests to observe the natural form of the trees and select the most suitable wood. By that time, the complete form of the bell rack was already clear in my mind. Then I would begin crafting it.
Through this process, the nature of my mind harmonized with the nature of the wood. This is how I could create such delicate and ingenious instruments as if by magic.