Without meditative concentration, not a single contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) can be passed.

Without meditative concentration (samādhi), not a single contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) can be passed. Even if one believes that all dharmas are like dreams and illusions, even if the mind consciousness has realized that all dharmas are like dreams and illusions, the manas absolutely cannot realize this; then it becomes a case of saying one thing and doing another. Moreover, the mind consciousness has not truly realized these principles either—the evidence is insufficient.

Starting from the third gate of the Chan school, the subsequent contemplations such as the illusion-like contemplation and the mirage contemplation all require the full attainment of the first dhyāna in order to pass. All prior contemplative practices, including the elimination of self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi), require the full attainment of preparatory concentration/threshold concentration (anāgamya-samādhi); otherwise, no gate can be passed. If someone believes they have eliminated self-view but have not attained threshold concentration, then they should carefully consider whether this is reliable. The time of death is a major juncture of birth-and-death, and there must not be the slightest ambiguity about it.