The Merit of Gradual Cultivation

The Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra describes the gradual cultivation process from the stage of ordinary beings to the four stages of noble ones. Among them, the initial Śrāvaka-bhūmi is explained in great detail; the yogi's process of cultivation and realization is not rapid but progressive. Only in this way can one gradually attain meditative concentration (samādhi), subdue and transform the various afflictive mental activities of greed, hatred, and delusion, and only then can one eradicate the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi), realize no-self, develop the character of a sage, and carry out the work of a sage. It is not the case that one attains the first fruit while still being extremely heavy with greed, hatred, and delusion—a wicked person who commits every evil deed.

Only gradual cultivation can gradually subdue afflictions, elevate one's character and virtue, and progressively perfect both the human personality and the bodhisattva disposition.

As for rapid intellectual understanding (jie-wu), quickly learning the final answer, it possesses none of this merit at all. There is no time to subdue afflictions, no way to elevate one's character and virtue; the result is merely gaining a reputation without the substance—that is a loss outweighing the gain. It is just like cooking rice and simmering medicine: rice quickly cooked versus slowly simmered over a gentle fire have completely different flavors and nutritional value.

Seeking speed is a serious utilitarian mindset, a mind of seeking and a mind of gaining—it is a worldly mind, a mind of birth-and-death. It cannot give rise to the mind of no-self, the mind of non-action, the mind of liberation, or the pure mind that seeks nothing. It often runs counter to the Path and produces the opposite of what is intended.