Meditative concentration in stillness more easily gives rise to wisdom

What is the difference between walking and sitting or lying down? When walking, the body consciousness and the mind consciousness must be placed on the operation of the physical body, with attention on the body and the surrounding environment; the attention of the solitary mental consciousness for contemplating the meaning of the Dharma must therefore be reduced—there is not enough energy, one cannot be single-minded, the contemplation is not deep and fine, and wisdom does not easily arise. Whereas in sitting and lying down, the consciousnesses are less scattered, the solitary mental consciousness can concentrate more, the contemplation becomes deep, fine, and meticulous, and wisdom arises more easily. Therefore it is said that the stillness-based concentration of sitting and lying down more easily gives rise to wisdom. In sitting and lying down, the mind carries no extra burden; one can concentrate one's energy and contemplate meticulously, without worrying about what situations walking might encounter. With the mind at ease, it is easier in seated meditation to give rise to preparatory concentration (anāgamya-samādhi) and the concentration of the first dhyāna.

Wisdom arises from samādhi—this samādhi refers to preparatory concentration and the first dhyāna. Therefore, for attaining realization of the fruits and enlightenment, one must at the minimum possess preparatory concentration. As long as it is not a thought-free preparatory concentration or first dhyāna, when the concentration is deep the contemplation becomes even more meticulous, and there is no problem in opening wisdom and discovering a new continent. Without meditative concentration, contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) is impossible; if the concentration is shallow, the contemplative practice lacks power, the mind is not refined, and one does not accord with the Dharma. Therefore, after studying the Dharma, the two modes of practice are meditative concentration and contemplative practice.