When one hears about Awakening through Meditation (Contemplation) or Knowledge, even those who understand that meditation may consist of Concentration, Reflection, Absorption, Contemplation and Penetration, nod their heads and believe that they fully understand.
That is probably an intellectual error.
The greatest error arises from thinking that one works with knowledge to arrive at some magic esoteric experience that explains everything and that Awakening then arises.
I am afraid, my friends, that that is not how it works at all.
AWAKENING THROUGH KNOWLEDGE
One cannot ever reach Awakening with what is termed cognitive intelligence. So what on Earth are they speaking of?
The surprising secret is those that those who arrive at Awakening by knowledge do not use knowledge at all.
For those who are able, and they are not the majority, the Path starts after Identity and Duality have been set aside and natural virtue is present.
It is then that Unconscious Experiences arise which are not fully grasped or understood. The mind begins then to search for a correct corresponding Cognitive Experience. When this is attained after a great deal of subtle reflection then the Virgin Conceptualization arises, which is then elaborated into the words and phrases of traditional knowledge.
Let us make that clear.
Unconscious Experiences are the fount which leads to Knowledge.
The Vajra practices are really neither Contemplations nor forms of Meditation. They are the deep penetration into experiences by way of Visualization, Mantras and Mandalas. While these are popularly considered as meditations they are really not so, for it these subconscious attained experiences that, when reflected upon, lead to Knowledge and Awakening.
AWAKENING THROUGH MEDITATION (CONTEMPLATION)
To the contrary, the Path through Meditation commences with conscious intellect and, with that as a base, the concept that is to become the Contemplation Device (CD) is refined to its most correct but simplified form as a one- or two-word Last Conceptualization.
This is reflected upon, as Vitakka, until an absorption arises, as Vicara, becoming the Last Conceptualization of the Cognitive Experience of the Device.
Dwelling then in the appropriate Meditation, without effort and with patience, determination and perseverance, then the Unconscious Experiences are liberated.
You can see then that,
Conscious Knowledge is the fount which leads to Unconscious Experience.
Chan Awakening then is an Awakening through Contemplation
Vajra Awakening then is an Awakening through Knowledge
CHAN AND VAJRA AWAKENING AND THE TEMPERAMENTS
The temperament described by Buddha as Aversive with a tendency towards the prospective Sensitive temperament, or one of prospective Sensitive temperament with a leaning towards Aversion, is capable of attaining Awakening by either Contemplation or Knowledge. Success depends upon reducing the Identity that has pride in Cognitive Intelligence to ashes.
The temperament that is dominantly potentially Sensitive, one who is Sensitive with tendency towards natural Discrimination or the reverse is best advised to proceed with Awakening through Contemplation (Chan).
The temperament that is dominantly Aversive, Aversive with a tendency towards Craving (of material or knowledge) or the person who Craves and Clings with a tendency towards Aversion are recommended to use Awakening through Knowledge (Vajra).
It must be realized that the enemy that is Dharma-death-bearing for anyone with any element of Aversiveness is a belief in the quality of their own intelligence.
The enemy that is Dharma-death-bearing for anyone with any element of Confusion is a belief in the quality of their own sensitivity.
The enemy that is Dharma-death-bearing for anyone with any element of Acquisitiveness is a belief in the quality of their discriminative or ordering powers.