瑜伽論記 4.3

4.3

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.