修習止觀坐禪法要 1.74

1.74

四、初入禪調息法者，息有四種相：一、風，二、喘，三、氣，四、息。前三為不調相，後一為調相。云何為風相？坐時則鼻中息出入覺有聲，是風也。云何喘相？坐時息雖無聲，而出入結滯不通，是喘相也。云何氣相？坐時息雖無聲，亦不結滯，而出入不細，是氣相也。云何息相？不聲不結不麁，出入綿綿，若存若亡，資神安隱，情抱悅豫，此是息相也。守風則散，守喘則結，守氣則勞，守息即定。坐時有風、喘、氣三相，是名不調；而用心者，復為心患，心亦難定。若欲調之，當依三法：一者、下著安心，二者、寬放身體，三者、想氣遍毛孔出入通同無障。若細其心，令息微微然。息調則眾患不生，其心易定。是名行者初入定時調息方法。舉要言之：不澁不滑，是調息相也。

Fourth, the method of harmonizing the breath upon first entering dhyāna: the breath has four characteristics: first, wind; second, panting; third, respiration; fourth, breath. The first three are unharmonized characteristics, and the last one is the harmonized characteristic. What is the characteristic of wind? When sitting, if the breath entering and exiting the nose is perceived to have sound, this is wind. What is the characteristic of panting? When sitting, though the breath has no sound, its entry and exit are blocked, stagnant, and not flowing smoothly; this is the characteristic of panting. What is the characteristic of respiration? When sitting, though the breath has no sound and is not stagnant, its entry and exit are not subtle; this is the characteristic of respiration. What is the characteristic of breath? Neither sounding, nor stagnant, nor coarse, entering and exiting continuously and unbroken, as if present, as if absent, sustaining the spirit peacefully, with the inner disposition joyful and serene—this is the characteristic of breath. Guarding wind leads to scattering; guarding panting leads to knots; guarding respiration leads to fatigue; guarding breath immediately brings concentration. When sitting, having the three characteristics of wind, panting, and respiration is called unharmonized; if one directs the mind with them, they further cause ailments to the mind, and the mind is also difficult to concentrate. If one wishes to harmonize it, one should rely on three methods: first, settle and focus the mind downward; second, relax the body; third, visualize the breath permeating all the pores, entering and exiting unobstructed and unified. If one refines the mind, making the breath exceedingly faint, then when the breath is harmonized, various ailments will not arise and the mind will easily settle. This is called the practitioner's method of harmonizing the breath upon first entering concentration. In summary: neither sluggish nor slippery is the characteristic of harmonized breath.