請觀音經疏闡義鈔 4.20

4.20

From "Red flesh" onwards, it separately explains the contemplation gate. The sūtra's discussion of the meaning of the contemplation gate is just the pervasive illumination dhyāna. In accordance with what is taught in the Gateways of Dhyāna, there are cultivation and realization. Since this dhyāna has no separate stages, cultivation and realization are discussed still in terms of the four dhyānas. Now this sūtra text is precisely the realization characteristic of the investigation limb of the first dhyāna. The Gateways of Dhyāna explains three realization characteristics: initial realization, middle realization, and final realization. What the present sūtra explains—such as [being like] vaiḍūrya, neither blue nor yellow, etc.—resembles the middle and final two realizations. Those who wish to know this in detail, please consult that text. A beginner practitioner who wishes to cultivate and practice should, according to the sequence of the six gates, first cultivate the counting gate, which is just as the sūtra says: "calmly and slowly count from one to ten." When counting succeeds, one cultivates following; when following succeeds, one cultivates cessation; when cessation succeeds, only then does one cultivate contemplation. If considered according to what is suitable, cultivating whichever single gate involves no before or after.