The Functions of the Threefold Training in Śīla, Samādhi, and Prajñā

The Function of the Three Unleakable Studies: Precepts, Meditation, and Wisdom

"Leakage" refers to the leakage of afflictions such as greed, hatred, and delusion, and the leakage of various kinds of ignorance. What leaks out are wholesome dharmas, wholesome aspirations, wholesome minds, and wholesome roots. A wholesome mind can liberate one from the suffering of cyclic existence; a wholesome mind can accomplish the Buddha Way. Leaking wholesome dharmas means unwholesome dharmas arise, and the suffering of birth-and-death cannot be severed. Therefore, one must cultivate to achieve an unleakable mind-ground, eliminating ignorance. There are primarily three channels to realize an unleakable mind-ground: the three unleakable studies of precepts, meditation, and wisdom. Through upholding precepts, the mind becomes unleakable; through cultivating meditation, the mind becomes unleakable; through cultivating wisdom, the mind becomes unleakable.

Why can upholding precepts make the mind unleakable? Because by being able to uphold precepts, the mind will not transgress the precepts, cannot commit evil, and cannot create the karmic afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion. Over time, after becoming accustomed to this, the mind naturally no longer thinks of creating unwholesome karma. Afflictions are then subdued, wholesome dharmas increase, and the Four Right Efforts are cultivated. Through long-term upholding of precepts, the mind becomes effectively restrained, no longer grasping everywhere, and meditation (dhyāna) arises.

Why can meditation make the mind unleakable? Because the mind in meditation is inactive—it does not grasp and is not scattered; it does not create the defiling karma of greed, hatred, and delusion—thus subduing afflictions. After emerging from meditation, due to the force of habit, the power of concentration (samādhi) can still be maintained to a certain degree. Without delighting in grasping, the mind remains at peace and does not create disorder; it can still subdue afflictions. If the concentration of the "undistracted state" (anāgamya-samādhi) is perfected, one can sever the five grades of afflictions in the desire realm, becoming a "stream-enterer candidate" (srota-āpatti-pratipannaka). In this very life, one then has the causes and conditions to realize the fruit of stream-entry (srota-āpatti).

The concentration power of the four dhyānas and eight samāpattis attained by non-Buddhists is even stronger. It can not only subdue the nine grades of afflictions and delusions in the desire realm but also subdue the nine grades in the form realm and even the nine grades in the formless realm. However, this subduing is not equivalent to severing and exhausting [afflictions], because it still lacks the wisdom of the non-self of the five aggregates. If one encounters the truth of the Four Noble Truths and relies on profound meditative power, by gathering the mind and contemplating briefly, one can realize the path, exhaust afflictions, and experience the "dropping off of body and mind." When one attains the fourth fruit of Arhatship, the hair and beard spontaneously fall off, and the kasaya robes adhere to the body, signifying the exhaustion of afflictions and natural ordination as a monastic. Before the third fruit, because afflictions still remain, the hair and beard do not spontaneously fall off, the kasaya robes do not adhere, and one cannot naturally become a monastic. Therefore, if a person in a householder body wishes to become a monastic without receiving the Bhikṣu or Bhikṣuṇī precepts, they must exhaust afflictions, have their hair and beard spontaneously fall off, and have the kasaya robes adhere to the body—without needing human tonsure. As long as there is even a trace of affliction while in a householder body, one is a householder. If one falsely claims to be a monastic, that is forcibly stealing the identity of the monastic sangha jewel, confusing the monastic and the lay, and constitutes an extremely heavy offense.

Why can wisdom make the mind unleakable? The wisdom realizing the truth of non-self within the Four Noble Truths and the Mahayana truth can eradicate ignorance. With no self in the mind, one no longer creates karma for the sake of "self." Without "self," there is no selfishness; without selfishness, there is wholesomeness. Wholesomeness can destroy afflictions, and the mind becomes unleakable. Where there is "self," there is transgression; where there is "self," there are afflictions; where there is "self," wholesome dharmas leak away. This unleakable wisdom is true wisdom based on precepts and meditation. Wisdom without precepts and meditation is "dry wisdom" (śuṣka-vidyā), lacking practical value. Precepts, meditation, and wisdom are unified together, jointly exhausting all afflictions so that wholesome dharmas never leak out again. When wholesome dharmas are perfectly complete and fulfilled, one attains Buddhahood.