How to Practice the Śūraṅgama Sūtra to Attain Enlightenment

The Śūraṅgama Sūtra is the book that explains the tathāgatagarbha dharma most thoroughly, and it is a dharma gate of enlightenment that fully deserves its reputation. It enables us to awaken to the true reality of all dharmas; depending on one's spiritual faculties (indriya), the depth of realization varies, all the way up to possessing the profound wisdom of the varieties of paths. As long as everyone's conditions for the six bodhisattva perfections are complete, and precepts, meditation (samādhi), and wisdom are also complete, when the time and conditions ripen, one will attain enlightenment the moment one reads the Śūraṅgama Sūtra.

Without a foundation in meditative concentration, without preparatory concentration (anāgamya-samādhi) being complete, and without genuine personal experience of investigation, enlightenment is out of the question. There is still a certain difference and distance between having preparatory concentration and having it fully complete. Many people have not yet developed preparatory concentration, so it goes without saying that it is not complete, and thus they are still very far from enlightenment. When preparatory concentration is not complete, one cannot investigate with the manas; one can only remain at the stage of analysis by the mind consciousness, which is very shallow and unable to go deep into contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā). When the power of concentration is insufficient, the mind cannot settle on one point; thoughts frequently wander and the mind is scattered and restless, and no true wisdom will arise. This is how important meditative concentration is.

When the time and conditions arrive, one will suddenly awaken with a snap—nothing can hold it back. This is sudden enlightenment. What comes gradually is what the mind consciousness has analyzed out, and it has no actual effect.