瑜伽論記 7.54

7.54

Regarding 'Furthermore, when this practitioner who diligently cultivates the mindfulness of counting breath', etc.: this means that when counting from one and before reaching ten, if confusion arises in between, one should discard it, not count [further], and return to starting from one; if at the time, because the counting has become extremely well practiced, up to 'first having the operation of apprehending with respect to the in-breath', at the time of presence one knows it is present; after the in-breath has ceased, 'having the operation of apprehending with respect to the empty interval of breath', at the time of absence one knows it is absent; next with respect to the out-breath and below, regarding that out-breath one knows presence and knows absence; regarding 'thus sequentially and continuously flowing up to causing the mind to abide stably': the numerous contemplative practices differentiated above sequentially continue up to causing the mind to abide stably; regarding 'with respect to the in-and-out breaths, one should correctly follow along and should examine and discern clearly': with respect to the in-and-out breaths, whether counting single or double, forward or reverse, if there is no confusion one should correctly follow along, and if there is confusion one should examine and discern clearly; regarding 'with respect to the in-and-out breaths, and the interim between the two, whether proceeding or returning, one thoroughly understands all distinctions of stage': when the in-and-out breaths arise it is called 'proceeding'; when in the interim it has ceased and the next has not yet arisen, it is called 'returning'; all such distinctions of stages of proceeding and returning are thoroughly understood, and this is called the cultivation of counting.