Must the successful perfuming of the manas and the attainment of realization necessarily occur within meditative concentration (dhyāna)?

Attaining realization of the fruits must occur within meditative concentration (samādhi), whereas the manas being permeated and cultivated to accomplishment does not necessarily require meditative concentration. However, permeating the manas with wholesome dharmas is easier within meditative concentration, while the permeation of unwholesome dharmas does not require meditative concentration at all. Because the manas itself contains a great many unwholesome dharmas and accords with them, whenever it encounters unwholesome dharmas, it can be permeated imperceptibly—especially with prolonged permeation, the manas will certainly be permeated into habit. Since the manas has been steeped in deep and heavy ignorance for beginningless kalpas, constantly dwelling among unwholesome dharmas, its afflictions and defilements are extremely, extremely heavy; it is powerless to extricate itself, and being saved by the power of others is also very difficult. To remove defiled afflictions and cultivate wholesome dharmas through permeation, transforming the mind toward goodness, cannot be accomplished through short-term effort.

Normally, defilements accumulated over beginningless kalpas would require permeation by wholesome dharmas over beginningless kalpas to transform evil into good, but this takes far too long, and there is no such long-lasting environment of wholesome dharmas. Therefore, one must achieve this permeation within a relatively short period of time—for example, one kalpa, one small kalpa, several million years, several hundred thousand years, or even several hundred or several dozen years. To accomplish this permeation in such a short time requires meditative concentration: the shorter the time, the deeper the concentration needed. Because within meditative concentration, the mind can be unified, deliberation (manana) becomes deep, subtle, and thorough, wisdom can arise, the manas grasps principles quickly, and it readily accepts permeation, so wholesome dharmas are easily accomplished. Without meditative concentration, the mind is scattered, the manas cannot deliberate thoroughly, wisdom does not arise, and it cannot accept wholesome dharmas; its views cannot change, and it will still act according to unwholesome mental factors (caittas).

Attaining realization of the fruits is even more difficult than permeation with wholesome dharmas; it requires greater and more subtle wisdom, and a more thorough transformation of one's views and thinking—one that does not rebound. The meditative concentration required will be deeper and more enduring. Only thus can the manas deliberate single-mindedly on the principle of no-self, and only by deliberating the theory thoroughly can one realize that principle. Meditative concentration keeps the mind unmoving or barely moving; when the mind is unmoving, afflictions can be subdued and the mind can focus on principle, giving rise to wisdom. Without meditative concentration, there is no such merit. Since beginningless kalpas, the manas has been habituated to self and afflictions; changing these habits and subduing afflictions in a short time is truly not an easy matter. Without special methods and channels, without extremely strong willpower, without great power of aspiration and endurance, one cannot eliminate the self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) and eradicate afflictions.