On the Practice of Dhyana

The first contemplation in the Sutra on the Meditation of Amitāyus, if successfully accomplished, signifies that one's meditative concentration has already surpassed access concentration (未到地定) and may even reach the first dhyāna (初禅). This constitutes genuine cultivation. Is it easy? It is extremely difficult. Very, very few people are able to achieve access concentration. To do so requires relinquishing much of worldly affairs. Attaining the first dhyāna requires subduing an immense amount of greed and desire-afflictions, having very few worldly attachments—who can achieve that? Especially lay practitioners, burdened with such heavy worldly habits. Therefore, do not readily believe claims of someone attaining the fourth dhyāna or another achieving the fourth dhyāna. Merely attaining access concentration is a significant test in itself.

Only after subduing worldly human desires can one attain access concentration. Only after subduing the desires of devas in the desire realm can one attain the concentration of the first dhyāna. If one cannot even subdue the most basic desires, do not hope for reasonably good access concentration. If a person desires to obtain everything—power, money, influence, fame—and also seeks attention and to show off, how can they achieve meditative concentration? Indulging in fine food, fine drink, fine clothing, and fine enjoyments—how can they achieve meditative concentration? Being preoccupied with every worldly matter—how can they achieve meditative concentration? Cultivation must be connected to one's own body and mind, linked to all one's actions of body, speech, and mind. Only through constant comparison and reflection, through continuous cultivation and verification of oneself, can one subdue the self, cultivate meditative concentration, and ensure the path of cultivation can continuously advance.