How to Improve Your Cultivation and Realization

Today's world is far too chaotic and turbulent. Even if Buddhist practitioners wish to be diligent, due to the constraints of their own minds and their environment, they are unable to practice diligently to the fullest extent, and many feel that their aspirations exceed their capabilities. If one wishes to make breakthroughs and attainments in the Buddhadharma—having already developed a relatively deep and complete theoretical understanding—then when it comes time for actual realization, one should distance oneself from worldly dharmas for a period of time, leave the familiar environment that binds one's body and mind, and find a secluded place free from disturbance in order to cultivate meditative concentration (samādhi) and investigate Chan, thereby elevating one's practice of cultivation and realization. If one wishes to attain realization of the fruits, one all the more needs a solitary and tranquil place for one's investigation and practice; otherwise, there is no way to elevate oneself to the point of realizing the fruits.