大乘法苑義林章 5.6

5.6

Third, the section on the bases of support in terms of body and stage. This has two parts: first, based on the body; second, based on the stage. Regarding 'based on the body': among the three realms, in which realm do the four fruits and four candidates first arise? Among the nine stages, in which do they first arise? Answer: The preceding three fruits and three candidates are first realized and first arise only in the body of the desire realm. The fourth fruit extends across the bodies of the three realms. The candidate for the fourth fruit first arises only in [the realms of] desire and form. If discussed in terms of stages, the preceding three fruits and candidates arise in only one stage, namely the stage of the desire realm. The fourth fruit extends across the nine stages. The candidate for the fourth fruit should be understood by analogy with the fruit. Explaining the basis of the body is completed. Regarding 'based on the stage': the preceding two fruits rely only on the initial mind of not-yet-arrived [dhyāna]. For the fruit of non-returner, it relies on the initial not-yet-arrived and the fundamental [dhyānas]. For the fruit of arhat, it extends across the minds of the nine stages. The eight fundamental [absorptions] and the initial not-yet-arrived constitute the nine stages. This completes the presentation of the bases of body and stage.