How to Attain Meditative Concentration (Samādhi)

The so-called meditative concentration (samādhi) is the state in which meditative concentration and wisdom are perfectly united. The Sūtra on the Samādhi of Sitting Meditation (Zuochan Sanmei Jing) introduces several methods of cultivating samādhi, among which there is a method of attaining the recollection-of-the-Buddha samādhi (buddhānusmṛti-samādhi) through contemplation of a Buddha image. When practicing contemplation of the Buddha image, one keeps body and mind upright, focuses single-pointedly, does not attend to other dharmas, and single-mindedly contemplates the Buddha image before one. While contemplating the image, meditative concentration is complete, the precepts are complete, and contemplative wisdom is complete—precepts, concentration, and wisdom are all complete—and finally one attains the samādhi of contemplating the Buddha image, the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā. The other kinds of samādhi are all attained only when precepts, concentration, and wisdom are complete. If the precepts are not complete, the mind is scattered and the inner mind restless, and then concentration is not complete; if concentration is not complete, contemplative wisdom cannot arise; and if contemplative wisdom is insufficient, samādhi cannot be born.

The Śūraṅgama Sūtra (Laṅkāvatāra... no—) presents the various states of samādhi cultivated by twenty-five sages, all of whom had precepts, concentration, and wisdom complete; within profound dhyāna, they deliberated deeply and subtly and investigated, attaining profound samādhi and gaining vast wisdom. Attaining a state of samādhi cannot be separated from profound dhyāna, nor from the contemplative wisdom of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses; the role played by the manas in this is far greater than that of the mind consciousness. Therefore, when profound samādhi is realized, great supernatural powers manifest.

In the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, the youth Sudhana made fifty-three visits, and every teacher he visited taught him a method of cultivating samādhi; he then engaged in deep and subtle contemplative practice one by one within meditative concentration. Each time he attained a samādhi, his wisdom increased and he ascended a step higher, until finally his wisdom reached that of an equal-enlightenment bodhisattva. Thus precepts, concentration, and wisdom are the preparatory expedients; concentration is the connecting link in the middle; contemplative wisdom is the bridge; and samādhi is the fruit of the Path. The fifty-three teachers taught Sudhana fifty-three dharmas, and Sudhana diligently cultivated them all, so his progress on the Path advanced by leaps and bounds, surpassing the cultivation time of other bodhisattvas by two or three immeasurable kalpas—his practice was truly swift. Why so fast? His power of vow was vast and profound, he honored his teachers and revered the Way, his dhyāna was profound, his wisdom deep and sharp, and his diligence unsurpassed; therefore he could accomplish all samādhis.