釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 10.87

10.87

第一、釋名。今此九法皆轉名次第定者，上來諸法門既觀行未熟，入禪時心有間故，不名次第定也。行者定觀之法先已成就，今於此中修鍊既熟，能從一禪心起，次入一禪，心心無間，不令異念得入，若善若垢，如是乃至滅受想定，是名九次第定，亦名鍊禪。所以者何？諸佛弟子心樂無漏，先得諸味禪，今欲除其滓穢，以無漏禪鍊之，皆令清淨，如鍊金之法。

First, explaining the name: That these nine phenomena are all alternatively called sequential absorptions is because in the preceding Dharma gates, contemplative practice was not yet mature, and upon entering dhyāna there were interruptions in the mind; thus they were not called sequential absorptions. The practitioner's practices of absorption and contemplation were previously already accomplished; now, having matured in smelting and refining them here, one can arise from one dhyāna-mind and sequentially enter the next dhyāna, mind to mind without interruption, not allowing different thoughts—whether wholesome or defiled—to enter, continuing in this way up to nirodha-samāpatti. This is called the nine sequential absorptions, and is also called refined dhyāna. Why is this? The disciples of the Buddha delight in mind in the undefiled; having previously attained the various dhyānas tainted by craving, now wishing to eliminate their dross and impurities, they smelt and refine them with undefiled dhyāna to make them completely pure, just as in the method of smelting gold.