Meditation in the Mahāyāna tradition functions as the central discipline through which wisdom (prajñā) and compassion (karuṇā) are cultivated in harmony with the bodhisattva ideal. Through calming and insight practices, the mind is stabilized and clarified so that it can discern the emptiness (śūnyatā) and interdependent nature of all phenomena, including the absence of an inherently existing self. This insight into reality loosens clinging and fear, allowing compassionate activity to arise without attachment. In this way, meditation is not merely an inward withdrawal but a training that prepares the practitioner to act more effectively for the welfare of others.

At the same time, meditation is the arena in which bodhicitta—the awakening mind that aspires to enlightenment for the benefit of all beings—is generated and deepened. Contemplations on loving-kindness and compassion, reflections on the interconnectedness and kindness of others, and practices that equalize and exchange self and others all serve to reshape motivation at a fundamental level. Such meditations strengthen resolve, patience, equanimity, and concentration, qualities that sustain the bodhisattva path over long periods and in difficult circumstances. In this sense, meditation is both the seed and the ongoing nourishment of the bodhisattva’s altruistic commitment.

Within the framework of the perfections (pāramitās), meditation itself is counted as a perfection and simultaneously supports the maturation of the others, especially concentration, patience, and wisdom. By repeatedly returning to focused awareness, afflictive emotions are gradually weakened, and the capacity for skillful response becomes more refined. Many Mahāyāna traditions also employ visualization practices involving buddhas, bodhisattvas, and pure realms, using these contemplations to purify karma, accumulate merit, and embody enlightened qualities. Such methods function as skillful means (upāya), adapted to the dispositions and needs of different practitioners.

In more advanced stages, meditation in Mahāyāna can open into a direct recognition of non-dual awareness, in which the apparent divide between saṃsāra and nirvāṇa is seen as conceptual rather than ultimate. Traditions that emphasize this dimension present meditation as a way of recognizing the mind’s nature while remaining fully engaged in the world, thereby supporting the bodhisattva’s vow to work for the liberation of all beings without retreating from ordinary life. Across these diverse expressions, meditation serves as the living thread that unites insight, compassion, and skillful means into a single, integrated path.