How to Contemplate and Investigate in Meditative Absorption Beyond the Second Dhyāna

All Buddhas attain enlightenment within the Fourth Dhyāna. Ordinary individuals cannot engage in contemplation in the Second Dhyāna, as consciousness becomes too subtle at that stage, unable to assist manas (the mental faculty) in deliberation and examination. Manas must then rely solely on its own independent function of discernment. Since the Buddhas attained enlightenment—an ultimate, profound, thorough enlightenment that comprehends the ultimate source of all dharmas—within the Fourth Dhyāna without the assistance of consciousness, what level of wisdom must manas possess?

The statement that one cannot investigate the meaning of Dharma above the Second Dhyāna applies to ordinary people. In reality, contemplation and investigation into the Dharma, leading to entry into the Path, are possible within the Second Dhyāna and higher states of meditative absorption. How then does one engage in contemplation and investigation within the absorptions above the Second Dhyāna?

This requires that before entering absorption, manas must harbor an extremely deep, intense doubt (yí qíng). One's entire being must be saturated with this doubt, with no other thoughts or ideas; all other dharmas must be excluded. Thus, the mind becomes single-pointedly focused on one dharma, deeply doubting and deeply investigating, with a sole desire to comprehend its meaning. When one then sits down to meditate and just settles into the cross-legged posture, consciousness will cease its manifest mental activities. The mind becomes purified and does not disturb manas's process of discernment. The five sense consciousnesses, having nothing to do, will subside, and the Second Dhyāna absorption arises. Manas then engages in single-minded investigation. When conditions arise that cause manas to generate distracting thoughts, this prompts consciousness to produce mental activity. The five sense consciousnesses then reappear, and one exits the Second Dhyāna absorption.

When manas contemplates and investigates within the absorptions from the Second to the Fourth Dhyāna, not only must the five universal mental factors (pañca sarvatraga) be fully present, but the five specific mental factors (pañca viṣayaniyata) must also be complete. Its power of conviction (adhimokṣa) and power of wisdom (prajñā) are not merely strong but exceptionally powerful. Only then can enlightenment be attained, the meaning of the Dharma be thoroughly investigated and understood, the power of samādhi be generated, and one abide within samādhi. If the meditative concentration (dhyāna), wisdom (prajñā), power of conviction (adhimokṣa), or power of mindfulness (smṛti) are even slightly deficient, enlightenment cannot be attained. Those whose manas possesses powerful five specific mental factors are no ordinary individuals; only sages are capable of this. Ordinary sentient beings (prithagjana) and virtuous practitioners (śaikṣa) should diligently cultivate and strive to strengthen the five specific mental factors of manas, thereby making their Path-power (bodhi-bala) more potent and their spiritual cultivation swift.