One Must Have Sufficient Concentration Before Engaging in Contemplation Practices

To discern whether it is the ear consciousness that first hears a sound or the mind consciousness that first hears it, and to understand what kind of sound the ear consciousness perceives, one must cultivate concentration. Both concentration in motion and concentration in stillness must be developed. Only with sufficient concentration can one engage in contemplation practice. It is not the case that one first practices contemplation and then cultivates concentration afterward; such an approach is inverted practice. Even if one succeeds, it is only through preliminary scattered contemplation that one gradually attains a focused mind, fully endowed with concentration, after which genuine contemplation in accordance with the Dharma can begin. Thus, it is always concentration first, followed by contemplation—this is called "calmness and insight," not "insight and calmness."

Without the meditative concentration cultivated through sitting meditation (concentration in stillness), even if one possesses very weak concentration in motion, it is of little use. The concentration in stillness developed through sitting meditation nurtures concentration in motion and enables our thinking to become deep and subtle. To observe and experience the activities of ear consciousness and mind consciousness when hearing sounds, one may observe within concentration. When an external sound arises, contemplate and examine the vibration of the sound against the eardrum, discern what kind of movement the ear consciousness hears, and differentiate each aspect clearly. Without concentration, however, such observation is utterly impossible. Moreover, the required concentration cannot be ordinary; it must be relatively deep and focused to perceive these distinctions. Begin by observing what the ear consciousness and mind consciousness respectively perceive when encountering a loud sound or a faint sound. Observe the impact of the sound perceived by the ear consciousness on the eardrum and the auditory faculty (er-gen). Then observe the state of the sound perceived and felt by the mind consciousness. If one can distinctly differentiate each aspect, it becomes possible to discern whether the ear consciousness arises first or the mind consciousness arises first, and what sensory objects each consciousness perceives. Within these contemplations, the functioning of both concentration and wisdom is present. If either is lacking, contemplation cannot be accomplished. Therefore, the practice of Buddhism entails the balanced cultivation of concentration and wisdom, upholding both calmness and insight.