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Meditative concentration (dhyāna and samādhi) is the key to cultivating and realizing the Buddha's teachings; it is one of the three important untainted studies emphasized by the Buddha, and the key to obtaining the wisdom of liberation. Concentration arises from precepts, and wisdom arises from concentration; without concentration there is no wisdom. Therefore, if one wishes to attain liberation, cultivating meditative concentration is essential and indispensable. At present, the bottleneck for most practitioners lies in meditative concentration: without concentration, the mind is scattered, distracted, and impure, afflictions cannot be subdued, and one feels inadequate when contemplating and reflecting upon the Buddha's teachings through contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), and thus cannot achieve realization. This book introduces concrete and flexible methods for cultivating concentration, combining stillness and movement. The book explains the factors that affect the arising of meditative concentration and the methods to counteract them, as well as ways to deal with obstacles to meditative concentration. In the latter part, it focuses on the concrete and effective methods and points of attention for investigating the huatou (critical phrase) within meditative concentration, as well as the correct knowledge and views of enlightenment in the Chan school, addressing how to ensure genuine enlightenment and avoid mistaken enlightenment. It also presents some practical experiences of contemplative practice for learners' reference and emulation, so as to continuously improve the quality of one's cultivation and realization, guarantee the realization of the Buddha's teachings, and obtain true wisdom.
