大般涅槃經集解 28.4

28.4

Sengliang states: The second [part] clarifies the gate of concentration. There are eight sections: First, the general contemplation of the thirty-six constituents of the body. Second, shifting the contemplation to observe the four colors, searching for a self and finding none. Third, contemplating the limbs and joints joined to one another, making the contemplation increasingly clear. Fourth, seeing that everything is blue-green. Because this contemplation is newly perfected, fifth, the Buddhas appear and then vanish again, causing him to reflect and contemplate easily. Sixth, contemplating the mind; this means the former contemplation of the body and the latter contemplation of the mind complete three applications of mindfulness. When two are already complete, the four are also complete; therefore, seventh, concluding with the stage of patient endurance. Eighth, clarifying that having attained superior concentration, one will certainly be able to break the precepts for the sake of beings. Here, the mindfulness of the body is clarified first, because people mostly impute purity to the body; this is the first contemplation. Baoliang states: The second gate has five sections: the contemplation of the four applications of mindfulness constitutes four, and the fifth concludes with the fruition. Below this is the contemplation of the body as devoid of self.