Questions and Answers on Samādhi

Question: If the channels have not been unblocked, is it possible to attain meditative concentration?

Answer: As long as there are no major obstructions in the channels, it is possible to attain meditative concentration. It is not necessarily dependent on being in excellent physical condition. Attaining concentration results from a combination of factors, not a single cause alone.

Question: What is the state of "passing through darkness in access concentration"?

Answer: The state of "passing through darkness in access concentration" (anagamya) occurs when one cultivates to the stage of access concentration, where the mind is without thoughts or conceptions, and one attains empty concentration. Thus, within access concentration, one enters a state of concentration without thoughts for a prolonged period—even for several days or more than ten days. This is pure concentration, devoid of thought, contemplative practices, and doubt, and thus unrelated to wisdom.