Eliminating Afflictions through Meditative Concentration and Wisdom

Non-Buddhist paths also have meditative concentration (samādhi), yet they lack the wisdom of liberation and the wisdom of the real nature of the dharmadhātu. To become fully endowed with wisdom, one needs to contemplate and practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) the Four Noble Truths and the real nature of the dharmadhātu through deliberation (manana) in accordance with the Dharma within meditative concentration. Right reflection is extremely important. All meditative concentrations can subdue the manas's grasping and afflictions, but they cannot eliminate afflictions or extinguish grasping. Because the elimination of afflictions and the extinguishing of grasping require not only meditative concentration, but even more require fully endowed cognitive wisdom—deliberating on the truth in accordance with the Dharma and realizing the truth. In other words, only when both meditative concentration and wisdom are possessed together can one eliminate afflictions and grasping, attain liberation, and accomplish the Buddha Way.