Do Not Stop at the Fourth Station

One afternoon at a small temple on the city’s edge, golden sunlight stretched across the brick courtyard as a temple bell hummed softly. In the meditation hall, a dharma teacher sat upon the dharma seat, his gaze gentle as he looked upon the assembly. He began slowly:

“Today we speak of the perfection of meditative concentration. But first, let us remember that true perfection is the domain of the Bodhisattvas, those who have achieved deep realization and spiritual powers. We are ordinary people, and can only understand it simply: it is the determination to attain absolute concentration, not stopping halfway, not becoming complacent midway.”

The teacher paused, glanced around, and then shared a story that left the entire assembly in silence.

“I recall when I was young, my family knew an old man who later we learned was a sorcerer. He had a large altar in his home, and I often visited to play with men I called ‘uncles.’ One day, during a moment of closeness, the old man taught me a practice: ‘Go home, at night, light an incense stick, sit before the altar, stare at the flame, and do not think of anything. Keep at it until the light of the incense changes color—then you will begin to see results.’ I listened, practiced several times, and truly saw the light change. But then conditions did not support it, and I stopped. Years later, encountering the Buddha’s teachings, I understood that even outside Buddhism there are practices of perseverance and hardship, and there are levels of concentration. But their starting point is not morality, and their destination is not liberation.”

He paused for a beat, then continued:

“Meditative concentration within Buddhism also has many stages, many layers, from shallow to deep. A beginner who attains mindfulness and clear awareness may already feel the mind spacious and light, moving and living with ease, as if living a different life. But that is only the first step. Going deeper, reaching the first absorption, the mind becomes pure and clear, transcending the ordinary human condition. With each level of concentration, one’s view of life, inner strength, and morality all change. But the difficulty lies here: we walk a path we have never taken, so it is easy to mistake ourselves for having arrived.”

The teacher offered an example that made many smile:

“Consider traveling from Saigon to Ngoc Thanh Monastery—a road you have never taken. You hear it is very beautiful, that the abbess is a dear nun, a little fierce perhaps, but still very kind. You walk two kilometers and see a beautiful scene—fragrant flowers, exotic grasses, and the people are also nice, a bit fierce maybe. You wonder: ‘Is this it?’ Without someone who has gone ahead to remind you, you might stop, thinking you have arrived. But in truth, the road ahead is still long. At every juncture, a beautiful scene appears. If you do not hold firm to your heart’s vow, you will stop midway.”

He emphasized:

“Therefore, when we set out, we must prepare a deeply humble intention, never assuming we are enough. We must vow before the Buddha: ‘May I keep walking, never standing still on the path.’ Without that vow, when we encounter a scene too beautiful, we will think it is done. We will stop, become complacent, and lose our blessings from merit.”

The teacher then spoke of differences between Buddhist traditions:

“Some schools believe that upon reaching complete enlightenment, one’s task is done, and one’s mind has become equal to a Buddha’s. Yet seen from the outside, that person may not possess the three insights and the six supernatural powers. Other schools may attain supernatural powers and the three insights and six powers, but their expression of morality, compassion, and wisdom is not yet clear. Each school has its own criteria for recognition, but we must take the standard of the Buddha’s time as our foundation: absolute mastery in meditative concentration, complete supernatural powers, and flawless compassion and wisdom. That is the true destination.”

He concluded gently:

“The Buddhist path must be complete in every aspect, not gaining on one side while losing on another. Like the journey of meditative concentration, do not stop at the fourth station, no matter how beautiful it may seem. Keep walking, keep walking, for the sacred landscapes ahead are far more wondrous.”

**Meaning of the Story**

The lesson that Thầy Thích Chân Quang wishes to convey is this: When practicing meditative concentration, we easily become complacent with the initial levels of absorption, mistaking them for the final goal. Therefore, from the very beginning, we must maintain a humble heart, make a deep vow not to stop midway, and always hold the ultimate goal of liberation, non-self, compassion, and the complete wisdom of the Buddha as our supreme standard.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Thầy Thích Chân Quang*