Attaining Samādhi through Deepening Buddha Recitation in the Heart

To attain concentration through Buddha recitation, one must delve deep into the mind. Our conscious mind is sometimes as scattered as a monkey, capable of reaching any state; the manas (mental faculty) further clings to objects incessantly, refusing to settle. To restrain these two consciousness minds—the manas and the conscious mind—one must learn to recite the Buddha's name slowly. The slower the recitation, the slower the mind stirs, until it finally ceases. While reciting, simultaneously listen attentively to the inner voice of this recitation; thus, the conscious mind becomes restrained, and the manas loses its ability to cling to other dharma dust (mental objects). In this way, the mind focuses solely on the state of Buddha recitation, achieving single-mindedness, and concentration naturally deepens.

If one's practice reaches the level of the manas, all problems can be resolved. Cultivating from the manas is the swiftest and most direct path. This aligns with the principle of concentration practice: concentration is a state of mind, specifically a state of the deluded seventh consciousness, primarily involving the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. The various states of mental focus constitute concentration in motion, which also includes concentration in stillness. As the dharmas perceived by the mind diminish, grow fainter, and even disappear, this is concentration in stillness, enabling entry into deeper meditative states. Before attaining enlightenment, one should not devote excessive effort to cultivating such deep, thoughtless concentration.