All Siddhas Throughout the Kalpas Have Attained Samadhi

The mode of contemplation taught in the Dhyāna Samādhi Sutra involves guiding observation practices with clear reasoning, though it is relatively rudimentary. The combination of dhyana (meditative concentration) and observation practice is sufficient to realize the fruits of the path and attain various samādhis, cultivating both concentration and wisdom simultaneously. During the Buddha's lifetime, it was the same: disciples would hear the Dharma, cultivate dhyana, contemplate and observe, and then realize the fruits. That was the practice path at that time, and it was highly efficient. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it was also like this: the masses cultivated concentration and contemplated through Chan practice; when the Chan masters gave discourses in the hall and when conditions and causes were ripe, they awakened to their true nature.

Moreover, each of the non-Buddhists (tīrthikas) had attained meditative accomplishments. When they encountered the World-Honored One, as soon as he expounded the Dharma, they were immediately able to contemplate and observe, realizing the fruits right then and there. Therefore, do not only see that the final step in their realization was gaining wisdom upon hearing the Dharma. Prior to that, their dhyana was already accomplished, their minds were already purified, and they had cultivated the Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment. All they lacked was right view and understanding. The World-Honored One’s teaching supplemented their right view, so they realized the fruits upon hearing the Dharma. We should not focus solely on others' final results; we must observe the process of their practice. The process is crucial. Without a process in accordance with the principles, there cannot be correct results.

In the past, the Chan patriarchs were all masters of concentration. Each disciple possessed dhyana, had already perfected the Six Pāramitās of a Bodhisattva, and had completed the process of cultivation. When the Chan master gave a discourse in the hall, the disciples beneath the seat awakened. The fruits appeared in this way.

We cannot look only at the results achieved by accomplished individuals; the most important thing is to examine their cultivation process, including what level they had reached in past lives, how they practiced, and what kind of foundation they possessed. Those whose foundation is already solid can experience sudden awakening upon hearing the Dharma, without gradual cultivation, because they had already undergone gradual cultivation previously or in past lives—that part of the path had already been traversed. To extract only the final segment of a practitioner’s cultivation process is to take it severely out of context, which is deeply misleading.

Beginners in Buddhism should read more about the Buddha’s Jātaka tales (stories of his past lives), referring to the path the Buddha took from his initial resolve to practice. This should provide great inspiration for us. To learn Buddhism is precisely to learn everything about the Buddha.