The Relationship Between Consciousness and Dhyāna

Both deliberation and investigation occur within profound meditative absorption, utilizing minimal conscious thought. If one continuously employs conscious reasoning, it will cause emergence from deep absorption, rendering the meditative state shallow or causing it to dissipate entirely, thereby preventing genuine realization. In essence, excessive use of conscious thought makes it impossible to attain meditative absorption, nor to deepen it. Only by minimizing conscious activity can the mind remain focused and undistracted, which is the result of subduing the mental faculty of intellect (意根) so that it no longer clings indiscriminately. If the mental faculty of intellect remains unsubdued, ceaselessly grasping at objects, conscious thought will inevitably follow suit, becoming scattered. Relying solely on such superficial conscious thinking prevents the genuine wisdom from arising.