All Siddhas Throughout the Kalpas Have Attained Samadhi

The method of contemplation taught in the Sutra on the Concentration of Sitting Meditation is instruction in contemplative practice, with clear reasoning, though somewhat rudimentary. Combining meditative concentration (dhyāna) with contemplative practice is sufficient to attain fruition (phala) and achieve various samādhis, cultivating both concentration and wisdom (prajñā) together. Even during the Buddha's lifetime, it was the same: disciples would hear the Dharma, cultivate meditative concentration, engage in contemplative thought, and then attain fruition. That was the path of practice at that time, and it was highly efficient. It was also like this during the Tang and Song dynasties: the masses cultivated concentration and contemplative inquiry (canchan), Chan masters gave discourses in the hall, and when conditions and causes were ripe, they realized the mind and saw its nature (mingxin jianxing).

Furthermore, each of the non-Buddhist practitioners (tirthikas) had attained skill in meditative concentration. When they met the World-Honored One (Bhagavān), as soon as he expounded the Dharma, they were immediately able to engage in contemplative thought and attain fruition right then. Therefore, we should not only look at the final step of others attaining fruition—gaining wisdom instantly upon hearing the Dharma. Prior to that, their meditative concentration was already accomplished, their minds were already purified, and they had already cultivated the Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment (bodhipakṣikā dharmaḥ). They only lacked correct knowledge and view (samyag-dṛṣṭi). The World-Honored One's teaching supplied them with correct knowledge and view, and thus they attained fruition instantly upon hearing the Dharma. We should not focus solely on the final result achieved by others; we must observe the process of their practice. The process is crucial. Without a process in accordance with the principle, it is impossible to have the correct result.

In the past, the Chan Patriarchs were all masters of concentration. Each disciple had meditative concentration, had already perfected the Six Perfections (pāramitās) of a Bodhisattva, and had completed the process of practice. When the Chan master gave a discourse in the hall, the disciples seated below would awaken. Fruition appeared in this way.

We cannot look only at the results achieved by accomplished individuals; the most important thing is to observe their process of practice, including to what stage they had cultivated in past lives, how they practiced, and what kind of foundation they had. Those whose foundation was already established could attain sudden awakening (dunwu) instantly upon hearing the Dharma, without needing gradual cultivation (jianxiu), because they had already undergone gradual cultivation previously or in past lives—that part of the path had already been traversed. To take only the final segment of a practitioner's process is a severe case of taking words out of context (duan zhang qu yi), which is highly misleading and causes great harm.

Beginners in Buddhism should read more about the Buddha’s Jātaka tales (stories of his past lives), referring to the path the Buddha took in his practice from the initial arising of the bodhicitta (mind of awakening). This should provide us with great inspiration. To study Buddhism (xue fo) is precisely to learn everything about the Buddha.