How to Quickly Cultivate Meditative Concentration

Only by subduing afflictions and transforming unwholesome mental dispositions can meditation progress relatively quickly. Meditative concentration (samādhi) is not necessarily achieved through long hours of sitting; it can be attained without relying on prolonged sitting. Mental disposition is crucial—having mild afflictions plays a decisive role in the arising of meditative concentration.

Greed, hatred, delusion, arrogance, and doubt, as well as incorrect views, are all afflictions. Each person's afflictions differ in emphasis, and thus the causes obstructing the Path also differ. But in general, they all arise from delusion, ignorance, and afflictions. Delusion is the general and fundamental affliction; without delusion, the afflictions of greed and hatred, the affliction of self-conceit, and the afflictions of doubt and wrong view would not exist. Everyone should observe carefully to identify their own greatest and most primary affliction, and focus on subduing that primary affliction. When the principal contradiction is resolved, all contradictions can be dissolved—and the same applies to subduing afflictions. By subduing the primary affliction, the obstruction can be basically removed, and the other afflictions will be eliminated accordingly. Some people are extremely greedy, some extremely hateful, some extremely deluded, some extremely arrogant, some heavily doubtful, and some hold views that are far too incorrect. The great, primary afflictions are the cause of all other afflictions. Find the cause and resolve it, and the conditions will no longer exist, and the obstruction will be eliminated.