Meditative Concentration Easily Arises Only When There Is Less Clinging to External Conditions

If the mind is always swayed by various states and turned by them, then meditative concentration cannot be achieved; without concentration, contemplative practice is impossible. The precepts guard against wrongdoing and stop evil, preventing the mind from becoming scattered; they are used to subdue afflictions. Only after afflictions have been pressed down, when the mind no longer stirs restlessly and, when states arise, the mind engages in less grasping, will it be easy to cultivate meditative concentration. If the mind is preoccupied with food, clothing, housing, and daily use, with many likes, desires, and many people and things one cares about, the mind tangled like hemp—then how can there be concentration? Reduce your interests and hobbies, reduce the objects the mind attends to, and the mind can settle down a little. Try to be uninterested in and unconcerned with all the people and things around you; let the mind engage in little grasping, draw the mind inward, and not scatter it outward—then meditative concentration will surely appear.

Among people, if one has many interests and hobbies, grasps at every kind of worldly affair, and everywhere and at all times wants to show oneself off, with a self always appearing in the mind, the mind will not attain tranquil stillness. At the time of death, one will discover that this life has in fact yielded nothing—a futile and useless effort. So now it would be better to turn back early and develop the inner treasure abundantly, rather than greedily seeking outward and disturbing the mind. Life always involves gains and losses; you must calculate well for yourself what gain constitutes the greatest benefit, so that in future lives you will have reliable security.