Practice Requires the Equal Cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā

Not engaging with states of meditative experience and dissolving such states—this is a method for cultivating meditative concentration (samādhi), to be used during the practice of concentration. When the power of concentration is sufficient and contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) is needed, one must contemplate within the states of meditative experience. Practice requires first cultivating meditative concentration, and then cultivating wisdom by contemplating the Buddha-dharma. Only through the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā can one realize the Buddha-dharma. If one lacks the power of concentration and attempts contemplative practice, nothing contemplated will be accomplished. At best, the result would be mere intellectual understanding; but understanding is like scratching an itch through a boot, or distant water failing to quench immediate thirst—because what is understood is not one's own realization, and the manas has not eradicated ignorance. Therefore, intellectual understanding has no real practical use.