The Relationship between the Manas, Meditative Concentration, and Enlightenment

The deliberation (manasikāra) of the manas is deeper, subtler, and more thorough than the intellectual reasoning of the mind consciousness; therefore, enlightenment is possible only when the manas also simultaneously deliberates and investigates the Dharma principles. Moreover, in order for the manas to participate in the investigation of the Dharma meaning, one must possess relatively deep meditative concentration (dhyāna), so that the Dharma meaning can penetrate to the manas and thereby arouse the manas to deliberate and examine it single-mindedly. Without meditative concentration, the manas cannot concentrate, and one will be unable to apply effort to the investigation. If one forcibly engages in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) without meditative concentration, that is called guessing and emotional speculation and intellectual understanding—and everyone already knows what the outcome of that would be. Therefore, before you can begin to apply effort to investigating Chan, you must thoroughly understand and clarify the relationship between meditative concentration and enlightenment, and the relationship between the manas and enlightenment.