俱舍論頌疏論本 6.27

6.27

Regarding "the path mutually [among] the nine stages": what was previously said about "one's own stage" was stated based on the conditioned with out-flows (sāsrava). In the case of the undefiled (anāsrava) path, when the nine stages are viewed in relation to one another, they are all mutually similar causes (sabhāgahetu) for one another. The "nine stages" refer to the preliminary (anāgamya), the intermediate (dhyānāntara), the four dhyānas, and the three formless [absorptions]. Generating the undefiled path based on these nine stages, each and every one serves as a cause for the nine stages. Arising in reliance upon the preliminary stage, the undefiled path can serve as a cause for the truth of the path in the nine stages, up to: arising in reliance upon the stage of nothingness (ākiṃcanyāyatana), the undefiled path also serves as a similar cause for the nine stages. The treatise says: "These reside in all stages like guests; they are not subsumed within the realms (dhātu) and are not appropriated as their own by the craving (tṛṣṇā) belonging to those stages. Therefore, although the paths of the nine stages are not identical, they mutually serve as causes for one another because they are of the same kind." The explanation says: The undefiled is not bound to a realm; though it arises in various stages, it is like a guest residing [there]. Conditioned things with out-flows are appropriated by craving, and therefore fall within the subsumption of the realms. Undefiled phenomena are not appropriated as their own by the craving of the nine stages, and therefore the undefiled path does not fall within the subsumption of the realms.