How to Cultivate Dhyāna

Developing meditative concentration also requires skillful methods; it cannot be achieved by merely enduring the pain of sitting. If one constantly grasps and clings to all phenomena, with the mind continuously engaged in perception, observation, and thinking, the mind will not be tranquil, making it impossible to sit and cultivate meditative concentration. How can the mind become tranquil to allow meditative concentration to arise? It is necessary to reduce the grasping and clinging of the mental faculty and decrease perception, observation, and thinking. Then the mind will gradually become purified, and meditative concentration will arise.

The Dhyāna-samādhi Sūtra explains many methods for developing concentration. Before cultivating concentration, one must first use wisdom to recognize the illusory nature of all phenomena in order to eliminate the grasping mind. When grasping diminishes, meditative concentration will arise. For example, if someone has attachment to family or companions, a method should be used to eliminate thoughts of family and companions; when the mind is free from such thoughts, it will become tranquil and able to stabilize. If someone is attached to their homeland or country, they must eliminate thoughts of homeland; when the mind no longer dwells on homeland or country, meditative concentration will arise. If someone harbors greed or desire, they must find a way to subdue it; when the mind is free from greed and desire, it becomes tranquil, and meditative concentration arises. If someone holds anger or resentment, they must find a way to subdue it; when the mind is free from anger and becomes tranquil, meditative concentration arises. Before sitting cross-legged, one should first identify what afflictions or thoughts occupy the mind, then find a corresponding method to counteract them. Once one has convinced oneself and the afflictions or thoughts no longer arise, developing concentration becomes easier. In this way, by using wisdom to eliminate the grasping mind, the mind quiets down and enters concentration.

After the mind is subdued and meditative concentration arises, one should engage in contemplation and observation within that concentration to counteract afflictions. Upon attaining samādhi, afflictions can be eliminated. Those with strong anger should cultivate the contemplation of loving-kindness; the Dhyāna-samādhi Sūtra details specific methods for this. Those with strong greed should cultivate the contemplation of the skeleton; by visualizing people as skeletons, greed diminishes. Those with attachment to family or companions should contemplate the impermanence, illusoriness, and unreliability of family and companions. Those whose minds are constantly attached to their homeland, dwelling on thoughts of country, should contemplate the disasters, fragility, and unreliability within that country. In this way, true great wisdom is generated from concentration.

Concentration and wisdom actually mutually support and complement each other. Observing the impermanence of the world with wisdom reduces the mind's grasping and scattering, making it easier to settle into concentration. Observe what binds your mind, then contemplate and analyze how these bonds are contrary to the Dharma. Through thorough analysis, the bonds will gradually loosen, freeing the mind from entanglement and allowing it to become tranquil. It is essential to understand what is in your own mind; without understanding, it is impossible to eliminate those thoughts, and the mind cannot become tranquil. Rely on wisdom to guide concentration. After developing concentration, engage in contemplation within that concentration, which in turn gives rise to even deeper wisdom, known as samādhi. Therefore, wisdom facilitates the cultivation of concentration, while without wisdom it is difficult to cultivate concentration. With meditative concentration, wisdom is more readily attained.