Long-term cultivation of the samādhi of no-thought and no-perception cannot lead to seeing the Path and opening wisdom.

Some people have long cultivated the samādhi of no-thought and no-perception, yet no matter how long they cultivate, the first dhyāna never arises, nor do they see the Path and develop wisdom. Cultivating in this way only wastes precious time for studying Buddhism. Long-term absence of thought and perception, without proper contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) and rational deliberation (manana) on the Buddha's teachings, cannot give rise to any wisdom and cannot lead to realization of the Path. When death comes, how will one settle this tainted body of defilements?

If one cultivates only the body and not the mind, then no matter how long one enters concentration, the first dhyāna will never appear. Only by becoming free of desire for the desire realm, removing greed and attachment, can the first dhyāna appear. What benefit is there in dwelling for a long time in the dark, dim state of preparatory concentration (anāgamya-samādhi)?

Once meditative concentration has been well cultivated and one's views are complete, one must give rise to the thought of investigation within samādhi, and can no longer remain in a state of thinking nothing at all. Only with a thought and a questioning doubt can one break through the questioning doubt and attain wisdom. Without concentration, having a questioning doubt is—bluntly put—blind speculation.