Elimination of Self-View (ahaṃkāra-mamakāra-parityāga) Must Be Accompanied by Meditative Concentration

The pattern for eliminating self-view (ahaṃkāra-mamakāra-parityāga) was already established by the Buddha long ago, and none of these patterns can be separated from the power of meditative concentration (samādhi); all of them involve contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) through deliberation within meditative concentration. Even when the Buddha was teaching the Dharma, he required his disciples to listen with a concentrated mind and to be able to reflect. The Buddha always said: "Listen well, listen well, and reflect on it with care." People in those days, being simple-minded, all had varying degrees of meditative concentration; they could reflect while listening to the Dharma and were all capable of contemplative practice, so attaining realization seemed quite easy.

People of today do not have much merit; our minds are not simple, full of scattered and disordered thoughts, and we lack meditative concentration. Due to the limitations of our circumstances and conditions, we cannot cultivate meditative concentration well, so that even when the Dharma is taught in great detail, we still do not know how to engage in contemplative practice, and questioning doubt still does not arise. If one has a certain degree of meditative concentration, then merely looking at the text can give rise to contemplative practice; questioning doubt will appear, and will grow deeper and deeper. Those with a very strong resolve for the Path will give up some worldly affairs, determined to resolve the questioning doubt no matter what. Without meditative concentration, contemplative practice is impossible, and one cannot penetrate deep into the manas; the manas cannot exert any force, and even though the answer lies right there, plainly before one's eyes, it cannot be obtained.

The Great Mindfulness Sūtra taught by the Buddha contains methods that include both meditative concentration and wisdom, combining samādhi and prajñā; eliminating self-view by this means is the fastest. The Buddha explained those methods of reflection very clearly and in great detail; as long as one applies effort and cultivates according to those methods, eliminating self-view is not too difficult. The Great Mindfulness Sūtra is an excellent method of practice, suitable for everyone; it is just that many people are unwilling to put in the effort.