釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 2.114

2.114

第四、調五法者：一者、調節飲食；二者、調節眠睡；三者、調身；四者、調氣息；五者、調心。所以者何？今借近譬以況斯法，如世陶師，欲造眾器，先須善巧調泥，令使不強不軟，然後可就輪繩。亦如彈琴，先應調絃，令寬急得所，方可入哢，出諸妙曲。行者修心亦復如是，善調五事，必使和適，則三昧易生；若有所不調，多諸妨難，善根難發。

Fourth, harmonizing the five factors: first, regulating food and drink; second, regulating sleep; third, harmonizing the body; fourth, harmonizing the breath; fifth, harmonizing the mind. Why is this? Now we borrow a familiar analogy to illustrate this method: it is like a worldly potter who, wishing to make various vessels, must first skillfully knead the clay, making it neither too stiff nor too soft, and only then can he place it on the wheel and cord. It is also like playing a zither: one must first tune the strings so that tightness and slackness are properly balanced, and only then can one begin playing and produce various sublime tunes. The practitioner cultivating the mind is also like this: skillfully harmonizing the five matters and ensuring they are well-attuned, samādhi will easily arise; if any of them is not harmonized, there will be many obstacles and difficulties, and the wholesome roots will be hard to bring forth.