The Long Āgama Sūtra 10.29

10.29

「云何八生法？謂八大人覺：道當少欲，多欲非道；道當知足，無厭非道；道當閑靜，樂眾非道；道當自守，戱笑非道；道當精進，懈怠非道；道當專念，多忘非道；道當定意，亂意非道；道當智慧，愚癡非道。云何八知法？謂八除入：內有色想，觀外色少，若好若醜，常觀常念，是為初除入。內有色想，觀外色無量，若好若醜，常觀常念，是為二除入。內無色想，外觀色少，若好若醜，常觀常念，是為三除入。內無色想，外觀色無量，若好若醜，常觀常念，是為四除入。內無色想，外觀色青，青色、青光、青見，譬如青蓮華，亦如青波羅㮈衣，純一青色、青光、青見，作如是想，常觀常念，是為五除入。內無色想，外觀色黃，黃色、黃光、黃見，譬如黃華、黃波羅㮈衣，黃色、黃光、黃見，常念常觀，作如是想，是為六除入。內無色想，觀外色赤，赤色、赤光、赤見，譬如赤華、赤波羅㮈衣，純一赤色、赤光、赤見，常觀常念，作如是想，是為七除入。內無色想，外觀色白，白色、白光、白見，譬如白華、白波羅㮈衣，純一白色、白光、白見，常觀常念，作如是想，是為八除入。

“What are eight things to produce? The eight awakenings of the great person: The path should have few desires; having many desires is not the path. The path should be satisfying; being unsatisfied is not the path. The path should be secluded; enjoying company is not the path. The path should be to restrain oneself; playing around is not the path. The path should be diligent; indolence is not the path. The path should be focused attention; forgetfulness is not the path. The path should be a focused mind; a distracted mind is not the path. The path should be wise; foolishness is not the path.

“What are eight things to know? The eight changes to the senses. Having an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be small. Whether it’s beautiful or ugly, they continuously observe and attend to it. This is the first change to the senses.

“Having an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be measureless. Whether it’s beautiful or ugly, they continuously observe and attend to it. This is the second change to the senses.

“Without an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be small. Whether it’s beautiful or ugly, they continuously observe and attend to it. This is the third change to the senses.

“Without an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be measureless. Whether it’s beautiful or ugly, they continuously observe and attend to it. This is the fourth change to the senses.

“Without an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be blue. The blue form, blue reflection, and blue sight are like a blue lotus flower or a blue Vārāṇasī cloth. They are completely blue forms, blue reflections, and blue sights. Creating such a perception, one continuously observes and attends to it. This is the fifth change to the senses.

“Without an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be yellow. The yellow form, yellow reflection, and yellow sight are like a yellow flower or a yellow Vārāṇasī cloth. They are completely yellow forms, yellow reflections, and yellow sights. Creating such a perception, one continuously observes and attends to it. This is the sixth change to the senses.

“Without an inner perception of form, one observes external form that’s red. The red form, red reflection, and red sight are like a red flower or a red Vārāṇasī cloth. They are completely red forms, red reflections, and red sights. Creating such a perception, one continuously observes and attends to it. This is the seventh change to the senses.

“Without an inner perception of form, one observes external form to be white. The white form, white reflection, and white sight are like a white flower or a white Vārāṇasī cloth. They are completely white forms, white reflections, and white sights. Creating such a perception, one continuously observes and attends to it. This is the eighth change to the senses.