注大乘入楞伽經 6.11

6.11

Regarding the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment: 'bodhi' is awakening, and 'factors' means causes. These thirty-seven are the causes of awakening for the various vehicles; they are also called the factors of the path. Hence the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa states: 'The factors of the path are the place of enlightenment; they are the cause of the dharmakāya.' These thirty-seven factors comprise seven categories in total: first, the path of counteracting inversions, which is the four applications of mindfulness; second, the path of severing all indolence, namely the four right efforts; third, the path of giving rise to supernormal faculties, namely the four bases of psychic power; fourth, the path of expedient means for direct realization, namely the five faculties; fifth, the path of drawing close to direct realization, which is the five powers; sixth, the path of the essence of direct realization, namely the seven factors of awakening; seventh, the path that arises after direct realization, namely the eightfold noble path. Their meanings are as explained elsewhere. The sequence of these seven categories is: having heard the Dharma, one should first mindfully retain it; next, one diligently cultivates it; through diligence, the mind is collected, gentle, and adaptable; being gentle, faith and the others become faculties; faculties increasing become powers; the seven factors of awakening discriminate; and the eightfold noble path acts correctly. Expressing them in general by analogy: dharmatā is like the earth, the applications of mindfulness are like seeds, right efforts are like planting, the bases of psychic power are like sprouting shoots, the five faculties are like putting down roots, the five powers are like the growth of stalks and leaves, blossoming with the flowers of the seven factors of awakening, and bearing the fruit of the eightfold noble path. All Buddhas equally realize them; this is called equality of Dharma. One edition adds the six characters 'the ten powers, the four fearlessnesses, and so forth' after 'factors of enlightenment.'