Meditation and wisdom are one

Then the one, two, three and four groups of vertical lines on the far right represent the formless realm. The formless realm basically stays in the state of alaya consciousness. On the surface, it is a very, very peaceful state, but in fact it does not have the wisdom to realize it, so even if he practices for tens of thousands or millions of years, it does not make much sense.

I also said in the class just now that if we don’t have bodhicitta and the wisdom of enlightenment, and then go to meditate for three days, ten days, ten days, eight days, and feel a little bit, don’t think it’s a gain. This is repeatedly emphasized in Tibetan Buddhism, it’s nothing.Because our consciousness has many, many different feelings and different functions, as long as your mind calms down, it will have many, many feelings that you have never felt before, but these are just feelings and do not solve any problems.

So you must have these two things:One is wisdom and the other is bodhicitta.Without these two things, it would be useless for us to meditate seven times and calm down our mind a little.Of course, if we use this method to adjust our sleep, it is also useful for people with insomnia and to relieve stress.But this has nothing to do with enlightenment.

Let’s take a look at what the stages from the first jhana to the fourth jhana are discussed in Zen Buddhism. In fact, we also talked about it yesterday.This version talks about“If you only think about a hundred things”，That is to say, if you only have this state of not thinking about anything, not thinking about anything - not thinking about any substance, your mind will be very, very calm.“Get rid of all thoughts”Stop all thoughts.“One thought means death”，We reject or cut off every thought. In fact, there are no thoughts at this time.but“Birth elsewhere”，This doesn't solve the problem, and after a while it starts happening again, so it's of no use.

We talked about this principle repeatedly yesterday. From now on, whether you practice Zen, Dzogchen, Mahamudra, or whatever, this is particularly important:If we just don't think about anything, think about nothing, and our mind is very calm, and then we stop all thoughts, it will be of no use.

This is a particularly important sentence for people who really meditate. At that time, we mainly stayed in the four jhanas and eight concentration. This was a very peaceful state, but it was useless.From the fourth jhana to the final form realm and formless realm, there is not a single thought, but there is no enlightenment and no bodhicitta, so it is useless.And as we just mentioned, ordinary Arhats need to enter the realm of form to realize that there is no self. Zen and Dzogchen practitioners can realize it directly in the realm of desire.

Let’s take a look at the fourth chapter of the Tan Sutra, “Ding Hui Pin.”In this“The teacher tells the public”，The master then taught everyone:“Good Knowledge, this is my method”，Master Huineng said:This method of my sudden enlightenment,“Based on concentration and wisdom, the public should not be confused”。It is based on the concentration and wisdom of meditation, but please don’t misunderstand it.What misunderstanding?“"The difference between concentration and wisdom" means that you should not separate concentration and wisdom, and do not say that concentration and wisdom are two different kinds of meditation.Why do you say this?“Integration of Ding and Wisdom”，Concentration and wisdom are one.

We usually talk about precepts, concentration, and wisdom separately, but in Zen Buddhism, concentration is wisdom, and wisdom is concentration. This is also the special and different place of Dzogchen.Zen Buddhism also says this:Concentration and wisdom are one, "not two", and are not two different things.

“Concentration is the body of wisdom, and wisdom is the use of concentration”，Concentration is the essence of wisdom, and wisdom is the wisdom part of concentration.“That is, when there is wisdom, concentration lies in wisdom. That is, when there is concentration, wisdom lies in concentration.”。Wisdom, when it is understanding or when it is enlightening, who is enlightening?In fact, it is concentration upon enlightenment.How are wisdom and concentration divided at this time?When you achieve enlightenment, this part of enlightenment is called wisdom；Then the wisdom that is realized is immovable, and this part is called concentration.

So a thought is both concentration and wisdom.From the perspective of its immutability, it is concentration.；Then it is not only immovable, but also understands the emptiness of all things. From this perspective, it is wisdom.Concentration and wisdom are indistinguishable - this is how Zen teaches it, and this is how Dzogchen teaches it.So as we just said, does it mean that one must have concentration to have wisdom?no.

“If you understand this meaning”，If you understand this meaning,“That is Dinghui and other studies”，Concentration and wisdom can be learned and practiced equally and simultaneously.Then“All Taoists, don’t say that you should first develop wisdom through concentration.”，Practitioners, don’t say that you should practice meditation first and then develop wisdom in meditation.We usually say this:From precepts comes concentration, from concentration comes wisdom.This is the basic saying of Buddhism, but Zen and Dzogchen do not say this.There is nothing before or after this. Why?

“The first wisdom is to develop concentration, each one is different”，Don't say:First there is wisdom, then there is meditation, thinking that these two are separate.Why can't we say this?“Those who see this”，People who hold this view“Dharma has two aspects”，It’s a binary opposition, with a before and after, which is wrong.So what it really means is:Wisdom is concentration, concentration is wisdom.

We have the foundation of meditation. Enlightenment is very easy based on this foundation. It’s okay if we don’t have it.Master Huineng once said, "Don't be fooled by the masses." Here we should also say "Don't be fooled by the masses."Why do you say that?For people like Master Huineng who have already achieved enlightenment, there is no need to meditate first and then achieve enlightenment.So what about us ordinary people?Yes, we need it.It is more reliable to practice meditation first and then achieve enlightenment on the basis of meditation.Therefore, this should also be discussed separately for different people. These are particularly important and real practices.

That’s all Dzogchen teaches, but it’s just explained more clearly, while other Dharma methods are explained a little more vaguely, a little more generally—that’s the only difference.So when we practice the Dharma, we must remember these things. These are the real Dharma practices, and this is what we talk about when we talk about Dzogchen.

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