What Is the Equal Cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā?

Is there deliberation (manana) within contemplation? If there is no deliberation within contemplation, then nothing can be contemplated out. During contemplation, the mind consciousness has deliberation, and the manas has even more deliberation—the manas is certainly deliberating, and it deliberates with greater focus, without the interference of the mind consciousness. Only at this time is it possible for wisdom to arise and for new discoveries to be made. The deliberation of the surface consciousness is a prelude, meant to draw out the subsequent deliberation of the manas; the manas's deliberation is what has decisive significance, for only it can resolve major problems and realize anything.

Therefore, at the moment when not a single thought arises and there are no thoughts, although the mind consciousness no longer has thoughts, the manas is at its most diligent—the mental activity is turning and moving, applying itself earnestly. Perhaps in the space of a moment's blankness, an idea emerges, a strategy emerges—this is brought about by the manas. This is deep deliberation, true deep deliberation; the mind consciousness's deep deliberation can lead into the manas's deep deliberation. If there is no meditative concentration (samādhi), or the power of concentration is insufficient, the manas cannot be made to deliberate deeply, and even deep deliberation by the mind consciousness is difficult—then how could wisdom arise? The manas's deep deliberation is called "the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā," and it can give rise to various kinds of meditative absorption (samādhi).