How to Deliberate and Investigate in Meditative Concentration above the Second Dhyāna

All Buddhas attained the Way within the fourth dhyāna. Ordinary people, however, can no longer engage in Chan investigation within the second dhyāna, because at that point the mind consciousness becomes too faint to assist the manas in deliberation and reflection; only the manas's own solitary deliberation (manana) can function. So when the Buddhas awakened within the fourth dhyāna—and that was an extremely deep, profound, thorough, and ultimate awakening, an awakening that penetrated to the very source of all dharmas—without the assistance of the mind consciousness, what kind of wisdom must the manas have possessed?

That one cannot investigate dharma meanings above the second dhyāna is said with reference to ordinary people. In actuality, within the second dhyāna and higher states of meditative concentration, one can still think and investigate, and can enter the Way. So how does one deliberate and investigate within concentration at the second dhyāna and beyond?

Before entering concentration, the manas must possess an extremely deep questioning doubt, with mind after mind, thought after thought, being nothing but that questioning doubt, with no other thoughts or ideas; all other dharmas are screened out. In this way, the mind single-pointedly adheres to one dharma, doubting deeply, investigating deeply, single-mindedly wanting to clarify the dharma meaning. Under such conditions, as soon as one sits down and crosses the legs, the mind consciousness will extinguish obvious mental activity; the mind becomes pure and does not disturb the manas's deliberation. The five sense consciousnesses, having nothing to do, cease, and the second dhyāna appears, whereupon the manas investigates single-mindedly. When conditions arise, if the manas develops scattered thoughts that prompt the mind consciousness to give rise to thoughts, then the five sense consciousnesses reappear, and one emerges from the second dhyāna.

When the manas deliberates and investigates within the concentration of the second to fourth dhyānas, not only are the five universal mental factors fully present, but the five particular mental factors must also be fully present. Its power of determination (adhimokṣa) and power of wisdom (prajñā-bala) are not merely strong but extraordinarily powerful; only thus can one awaken to the Way, can one investigate and penetrate dharma meanings thoroughly, giving rise to the power of samādhi and abiding within that samādhi. If samādhi and wisdom, the power of determination, or the power of mindfulness fall even slightly short, awakening to the Way is impossible. Those whose manas possesses powerful five particular mental factors are no ordinary people—only sages can achieve this. Ordinary worldlings and the virtuous should cultivate diligently, striving to strengthen the five particular mental factors of the manas, so that the power of the Path becomes stronger and cultivation of the Way proceeds swiftly.