The Dhyāna Required for the Path of Seeing

Is the concentration required for us to realize the Path and attain enlightenment something that must be maintained continuously without interruption? Or is it present only when we deliberately invoke it, available when needed, but absent otherwise?

If one's cultivated meditative concentration is stable, the mind remains in a state of concentration constantly, though its intensity may vary—sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. When worldly affairs are numerous, distractions arise, and concentration weakens. If the cultivated meditative concentration is unstable, one may have concentration while seated in meditation, but it dissipates into scatteredness upon rising.

The concentration required for attaining the fruition and realizing the mind is a stable, profound concentration. Only with such deep concentration can contemplative observation and practice be subtle, thorough, and continuous; only then can the effort be sustained, allowing the wisdom of contemplative observation to progressively deepen. This is like boiling water: the fire must burn continuously and unceasingly for the water in the pot to grow increasingly hot and finally reach a boil. If the fire is intermittent, the water heats up and then cools down repeatedly, making it impossible to know when it will ever boil.

The minimum level of concentration required for practice is that, during contemplative observation and thought, there must be continuous concentration. One must engage in contemplative thought within this state of concentration, ensuring that the process of contemplative thought is sustained, persistent, and progressively deepens. It must be possible to maintain contemplative thought for extended periods without the concentration faltering. Otherwise, the practice is prone to break off and cannot be sustained; thoughts become disjointed, making it impossible to observe thoroughly enough to sever the view of self. As long as one possesses concentration and other necessary conditions are present, realization of the Path can occur at any time.