Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

meditations in the system of three-in-one aim at the
Tantra, so we honor Tsong-khapa as a Tantric guru. In
revering the other two, we proceed according to the
exoteric tradition: principle first and person after. Thus,
we should honor the sutras and then the Arhats. Even
the Arhats would not wish to be honored otherwise.
B. Differences between Samatha and Samapatti
I should call the reader's attention to the third chapter,
where we have already defined Buddhist meditation: "It
is the use of concentrated force (samatha, discussed in
the last chapter) to investigate Buddhist philosophic
truth and transform it from abstract perception into
concrete inner realization." Now we turn to this latter
stage, concerned with the actual methods of practice of
these samapatti meditations in the Hinayana.
Differences (between samatha and samapatti) are:
1. By its own nature, samatha allows no discrimination,
does not permit investigation, and possesses no initial or
sustained thought (vitarka or vicara); but in samapatti,
quite the opposite is true, and the two kinds of thought
are fully utilized. One uses the concentrated force of
samatha to investigate and train the mind in correct
discrimination. The fundamental difference, shown in
these contrasting definitions, is mentioned at length in
the Samdhinirmocana Sutra.
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