Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

. The Four Diligences (samyakprahana): if one has not
well developed these four, then many obstacles may be
experienced in meditation. In Taoism also there is great
emphasis on laying down good foundations of this sort,
though the stress there is on concentration rather than on
wisdom. First, say the Taoists, good actions should be
done and increased, so that in this way maturity comes
and meditation can be successfully practiced. Otherwise,
they say, although powers may be obtained by plunging
straight into practice without preparation, heaven may
be displeased and make a great roaring, killing the
practitioner with its thunder!
If we examine the Four Diligences, we notice that they
are mostly concerned with morality (sila) and its
development, which are necessary preparations for
meditation practice. Furthermore, abundant good
actions cause the gods and protectors to guard the
meditator from harm.
c. Regarding the Four Bases of Psychic Power
(rddhipada), some explain that all of them belong to
meditation. If we examine them in detail, we see that the
first three are the preparation for the fourth; they
prepare the ground for the concentrated investigation,
the deep samapatti, which occurs in the process of
meditation.
d. In Chinese this group is called the Five Roots (panca
indriyani, usually translated as the Five Spiritual
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