瑜伽論記 4.3

4.3

九地明境分之為三：初、二地是境體，一切皆以識為性故；次、三地是境相，麁細異故；後之四地是境界位，定俱不俱心無故。體二易知、難知為前後，相三麁細成三三品為前後。位四中定散有無，初二勝劣為前後，後二顯隱為先後。此下四地明位故文來也。

The nine stages explaining the cognitive object are divided into three: the first two stages are the essential nature of the object, because all have consciousness as their nature; the next three stages are the characteristics of the object, because coarse and fine differ; the final four stages are the states of the cognitive realm, according to whether they are with or without absorption, or with or without mind. The two [stages] of essential nature are ordered according to easy-to-know and difficult-to-know; the three [stages] of characteristics form three sets of three grades according to coarse and fine, determining their order; among the four [stages] of states, based on absorption and distraction, existence and nonexistence, the first two are ordered by superior and inferior, and the latter two by manifest and hidden. It is because the four stages below explain states that the text comes next.