On Practicing Meditative Concentration

The first contemplation in the Contemplation Sutra of the Buddha of Infinite Life (Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra), if it can be accomplished, means one's meditative concentration has already surpassed preparatory concentration (anāgamya-samādhi), and may even reach the first dhyāna. This is genuine cultivation—is it easy? It is extremely difficult. Very, very few people can accomplish preparatory concentration; one must give up many worldly dharmas to achieve it. To cultivate to the first dhyāna requires subduing an enormous amount of greed and afflictions, having few desires for things in the world—who can do that? Let alone laypeople, whose worldly habits are so heavy. So do not believe that this person has attained the fourth dhyāna or that person has attained the fourth dhyāna; preparatory concentration itself is already a great test.

Only when the worldly desires of the human realm are subdued can one attain preparatory concentration. Only when the desires of the desire-realm devas are subdued can one attain first-dhyāna concentration. If even the lowest desires cannot be subdued, do not expect to have a fairly good preparatory concentration. When people want to gain everything—power, money, influence, and fame all desired—and still want to show off and flaunt themselves, how can they have meditative concentration? Eating well, drinking well, dressing well, enjoying pleasures—how can they have meditative concentration? Caring about every worldly matter—how can they have meditative concentration? Only by linking one's cultivation to one's own body and mind, linking it to all of one's bodily, verbal, and mental actions, constantly examining and reflecting, constantly cultivating and realizing one's own transformation, can one subdue the self, can one cultivate meditative concentration, and only then can one's progress on the Path advance continuously.