釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 6.147

6.147

一、釋名者，言非想非非想者，解釋不同。有言：此定名一存一亡觀，所言非想者，非麁想，此則亡於麁想。非非想者，非非細想，此則存於細想。又解云：前觀識處是有想，不用處是無想。今雙除上二想，非想遣識處有想，非非想遣不用處無想故。又解言：若非有想者，此定中不見一切相貌故。言非有想非無想者，行人或作是念：若一向無想者，如木石無知，云何能知無想？故言非無想也。

First, as for explaining the name: regarding the expression 'neither-perception-nor-non-perception,' the explanations differ. Some say: this absorption is called the contemplation of preserving one and negating the other; what is called 'neither perception' means not coarse perception, which is negating coarse perception; 'nor non-perception' means not without subtle perception, which is preserving subtle perception. Another explanation says: previously, contemplating the base of consciousness was 'having perception,' and the base of non-employment was 'non-perception.' Now both of the above two perceptions are eliminated: 'neither perception' dispels the 'having perception' of the base of consciousness, because 'nor non-perception' dispels the 'non-perception' of the base of non-employment. Another explanation says: if it is 'neither having perception,' it is because within this absorption one does not see any characteristics whatsoever. As for 'neither having perception nor non-perception,' the practitioner may form this thought: 'If it were entirely without perception, it would be unconscious like wood and stone; how could it be capable of knowing non-perception?' Therefore it is said to be 'nor non-perception.'