大般涅槃經集解 68.16

68.16

Sengliang states: 'One who enters the formless realm' is precisely a division of flowing upward; because of entering the formless realm, it is a distinction within the flow. 'Second, those who delight in wisdom' explains why the four dhyānas are divided into equal samādhi and prajñā. The formless realm has much samādhi and little prajñā; cultivating equality, they delight in wisdom and do not delight in samādhi. 'First, internal; second, external': internal is one's own body; external is others' bodies. Although samādhi and prajñā in the intermediate state are weak, their path is vigorous; afflictions are coarse and their faults easily seen, so they attain nirvāṇa alone. Baoliang states: Next, he explains the seventh person in the fourth gate; however, from the first person who attains extinction in the present among the initial two gates, he does not explain the sixth person in the subsequent six gates, nor does he comment on them. Why so? Because this person's spiritual faculties are the sharpest, able to instantly resolve the four fruits within a single lifetime. Its principle has no complexities, and its meaning is easy and needs no presentation. Were it not so, one could not fathom its reason either. Sentient beings' inclinations differ: if they delight in debate, they are born in the five pure abodes; if they delight in quietude, they are bound to be born in the formless realm.