Can the Cultivation of the Four Dhyanas and Eight Samadhis Lead to the Attainment of Nirvana and Liberation?

Nirvana is the state attained by Arhats who have achieved liberation of mind and wisdom liberation. It is not solely related to meditative concentration, but primarily associated with the wisdom of liberation. Even if one cultivates the first, second, third, or fourth dhyāna, one cannot attain liberation and remains within the cycle of birth and death. This is because the root cause of birth and death—self-view—has not been eradicated. Consequently, afflictions related to the self remain unsevered, the mind remains bound by afflictions, and liberation is not attained; thus, nirvana is not realized.

Liberation of mind is the state attained by third-stage practitioners of the Hinayana path. They not only possess meditative concentration beyond the first dhyāna but have also eradicated self-view, eliminated the afflictions of greed and hatred, and severed the three fetters. This is the attainment of nirvana with residue. Upon further eradicating self-conceit and self-attachment, and completely exhausting all craving for the three realms, one obtains the wisdom of liberation and can then enter nirvana without residue.

Therefore, it is said that meditative concentration alone cannot eradicate afflictions; it can only suppress them. Without liberation of mind, there is no liberation of wisdom. Liberation of mind is the liberated state attained through wisdom combined with meditative concentration, which severs afflictions. Similarly, wisdom liberation is the liberated state attained through the wisdom of liberation combined with meditative concentration, which eradicates all afflictions.