Only by Being Fully Endowed with the First Dhyāna Samādhi Can One Eradicate Afflictions

Because the physical and mental experiences within the first dhyāna are quite wondrous, one will lose interest in the craving of the desire realm, and thus can eradicate the craving of the desire realm; because within the meditative concentration of the first dhyāna there is joy in the mind, one can eradicate anger. Therefore, without the meritorious benefit of the first dhyāna, greed, craving, and resentment cannot be eradicated. However, there is a prerequisite: one must first possess the wisdom of the eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa). Without this prerequisite, even if one attains the meditative concentration of the first dhyāna, one still cannot eradicate greed, craving, and resentment; one can only suppress the afflictions, not eradicate them. Once the power of concentration fades, the afflictions will reappear. Therefore, eradicating afflictions comes after attaining the meditative concentration of the first dhyāna, and before that, one must first sever the three fetters. The realization of any dharma is the combination of meditative concentration and wisdom—neither can be lacking—and the prerequisite is also the presence of merit.