True cultivation is an individual's independent practice.

When the World-Honored One was alive and taught the Dharma to his disciples, he would simply expound the Dharma that should be cultivated and studied at the time, and after that he would leave it be; the rest was left for the disciples to accomplish independently. In those days, after listening to the World-Honored One's teaching, the disciples would each find a quiet place free from disturbance and engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) and reflection within meditative concentration (samādhi) on their own. The World-Honored One never led anyone through concrete practice; he never led his disciples in a Buddha-recollection retreat, nor in a Chan retreat—no "seven" of any kind was ever held. The disciples always reflected upon and contemplated the Dharma themselves, cultivating alone; there was no group practice.

In studying and cultivating the Buddhadharma, if you wish to gain the greatest benefit, you must do much reflection and contemplative practice yourself, and try to avoid having others explain the Dharma in too much detail; if you do little contemplative practice yourself, the benefit you receive will be small. The greater the effort each person invests, the greater the benefit they will obtain. Practice much contemplation and much reflection, and do not fear making mistakes. If you go wrong, turn back and strive in another direction; when you have contemplated from every angle, wisdom will arise. Contemplative practice gives rise to wisdom, and such practice is one's own affair—it is best not to let others do it in your place. You must have great aspiration and not reach for ready-made things; you must expend more of your own energy and effort, reflect much, and cultivate yourself to realize for yourself: what one cultivates, one attains; what is not cultivated is not attained. Only after cultivating and realizing through direct experience can you obtain great wisdom and the merit and benefit of true liberation.