Only Through Deliberation and Investigation of the Manas Can One Attain Enlightenment

Only when the manas can deliberate (manasikāra) and investigate can one attain realization and enlightenment. And in order for the manas to participate in the investigation of the Dharma-meaning, there must be meditative concentration (samādhi); only then can the Dharma-meaning penetrate deep into the manas. Without meditative concentration, the manas cannot exert any force. If one forcibly engages in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) without meditative concentration, that is called guessing and emotional thinking with intellectual understanding—and everyone already knows what the result of that is. Therefore, the relationship between meditative concentration and realization, and the relationship between the manas and realization, must be thoroughly understood and made clear before one can begin to put effort into investigating Chan.