The Long Āgama Sūtra 18.22

18.22

「如來說法復有上者，謂觀察。觀察者，謂有沙門、婆羅門以想觀察，他心爾趣，此心爾趣，彼心作是想時，或虛或實，是為一觀察。諸沙門、婆羅門不以想觀察，或聞諸天及非人語，而語彼言：『汝心如是，汝心如是。』此亦或實或虛，是二觀察。或有沙門、婆羅門不以想觀察，亦不聞諸天及非人語，自觀己身，又聽他言，語彼人言：『汝心如是，汝心如是。』此亦有實有虛，是為三觀察。或有沙門、婆羅門不以想觀察，亦不聞諸天及非人語，又不自觀、觀他，除覺、觀已，得定意三昧，觀察他心，而語彼言：『汝心如是，汝心如是。』如是觀察則為真實，是為四觀察。此法無上，智慧無餘，神通無餘，諸世間沙門、婆羅門無有與如來等者，況欲出其上？

“The Dharma that the Tathāgata teaches has another superiority, which is examination. Examination refers to when ascetics and priests examine it using their perceptions: ‘That other mind has such a tendency, and this mind has such a tendency.’ When these perceptions arise in their minds, they’re sometimes true and sometimes false. This is the first examination.

“Ascetics and priests examine it not using perception. They might listen to gods or non-humans and claim that they say, ‘Thus is your mind; thus is your mind.’ This is also sometimes true and sometimes false. This is the second examination.

“Some ascetics and priests examine it not using their perceptions, nor do they listen to gods or non-humans. They examine themselves, or they listen to someone else, and they claim, ‘Thus is your mind; thus is your mind.’ This is also sometimes true and sometimes false. This is the third examination.

“Some ascetics and priests examine it not using perception, don’t listen to gods or non-humans, nor is it their own or another’s examination themselves. After eliminating perception and examination, they attain a fixed state of samādhi. Examining another’s mind, they say, ‘Thus is your mind; thus is your mind.’ Such examination is true. This is the fourth examination.

“This Dharma is unsurpassed, his wisdom is complete, and his miraculous ability is complete. None of the world’s ascetics and priests can match the Tathāgata. How could they surpass him?