Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (45)

Not being able to let go means our understanding of the principle is not thorough, or perhaps we understand it a little, but not completely. Once the principle is thoroughly understood, sitting here and contemplating, from our physical body to the entire universe, the mountains, rivers, and the great earth, the three thousand great thousand worlds, and the buddha-lands of the ten directions—if you reason it out according to this principle, everything goes from nothing at all to nothing at all; nothing is real. This requires entering deep meditative concentration (samādhi) and engaging in deep and subtle contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) on this principle, and accepting this principle. Without a genuine process of contemplative practice and acceptance, cultivation will not be effective, and there will be no power to subdue afflictions. When encountering specific situations, one still takes everything contacted as real, and thus grasps at it and becomes afflicted. When meditative power is insufficient, merit is also inadequate, wisdom is also lacking, and contemplative practice is also insufficient, one cannot realize the fruit of no-self.