成唯識論述記 7.312

7.312

述曰：自下文第二，義第六，辨三品修。此定有三品，如五十三說。滅定許退唯有現不成，後生色界，重能現起，准無想定說，下修退者亦爾，亦有現即不成故。問：若下品退能引現前者，與中品退人能引現前者何別？又中品不必退者，與上品修者何別？答：以修習時有上、中、下，其此定性類，有可退、不可退種類，必能引現前種類，不能現前種類有別，非以上、中、下根說有三品，不癈中根上修，上根中修等故。又解，即以三品根為三品修，以根別故，其修品亦別，若練根已而修習者，即轉成勝品，故有差別。

The Commentary states: Next is the second textual unit, the sixth topic: distinguishing the three grades of cultivation. This concentration has three grades, as stated in fascicle 53. That the concentration of cessation admits of retrogression only means that its present [manifestation] is not accomplished; born later into the rūpadhātu, it can manifest again; based on what is said of the asaṃjñi-samāpatti, those of lower cultivation who retrogress are also like this, in that there are cases where the present [manifestation] is simply not accomplished. Question: If one of lower grade retrogression can induce it to manifest, what is the difference between that and a person of middle grade retrogression who can induce it to manifest? Furthermore, if one of middle grade does not necessarily retrogress, what is the difference between that and one of upper grade cultivation? Answer: Because during cultivation there are upper, middle, and lower [grades], the intrinsic nature and types of this concentration have types that can retrogress and cannot retrogress, and types that definitely can induce manifestation and types that cannot manifest; they are distinct. It is not that the three grades are spoken of in terms of upper, middle, and lower faculties, for that does not preclude an intermediate faculty practicing upper cultivation, a superior faculty practicing middle cultivation, and so on. Another explanation: The three grades of faculties are taken directly as the three grades of cultivation: because the faculties are distinct, their grades of cultivation are also distinct; if one cultivates after having honed the faculties, it transforms into a superior grade, and so there is a difference.