Why Modern Buddhists Struggle to Cultivate Meditative Concentration

A common phenomenon among contemporary Buddhists is the insufficiency of both the conditions for cultivating concentration and the accumulation of merit, making it exceedingly difficult to develop meditative stability. Superficially, while the material standard of living for many has indeed improved, the merit that can be directed towards the supramundane Dharma of Buddhism remains profoundly inadequate.

Those who struggle to cultivate meditative concentration and whose minds are not empty and pure should frequently examine and introspect their inner states. They must observe whether their minds are filled with the five desires of the desire realm: wealth, sensual pleasures, fame, food, and sleep; whether they cling to the various phenomena, affairs, and objects of the desire realm; and whether they harbor deep attachments to these desire realm phenomena. Such attachments are the root afflictions obstructing meditative concentration, rendering its cultivation arduous. Having identified this root affliction, one must devise means to eliminate it, continuously contemplating, analyzing, and observing the illusory and insubstantial nature of these phenomena to reduce their grip.

If a person delights in fine food, comfort, enjoyment, and praise; if they crave and cling to all aspects of the human realm within the desire realm, caring deeply about everything; if they constantly dwell upon and emphasize all worldly matters — meditative concentration will be impossible to attain. The more one pursues worldly life, the more hope and interest one places in it, the harder it becomes to achieve meditative concentration. For when the mind is burdened and obstructed by attachments, its load becomes heavy; it cannot be empty and still, nor can it attain lightness and ease. If we can subdue, even to some degree, the various cravings, hatreds, jealousies, and resentments towards the human world, meditative concentration can arise swiftly.

If our thoughts continuously cling to the world of the five aggregates, with heavy mental grasping, the arising of meditative concentration is impossible. Only when the mind develops weariness and detachment towards the world of the five aggregates, free from desire, can the concentration of the desire realm arise; only by becoming weary of and detached from the environment of the five aggregates in the heavenly realms of the desire realm can the concentration of the form realm arise. If we always harbor expectations towards the world, if the mind constantly chases after objects, it becomes difficult to accommodate that which is more sublime and wondrous.