釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 3.49

3.49

First, regarding listing the headings of wholesome dharmas, wholesome dharmas are of two kinds: first, external wholesome dharmas; second, internal wholesome dharmas. Now, in explaining external wholesome dharmas, wholesome acts are indeed numerous, but five kinds are briefly outlined: 1. Giving; 2. Maintaining precepts; 3. Filial piety towards parents, masters, and elders; 4. Faithfully revering the Three Jewels and diligently making offerings; 5. Chanting, reciting, listening, and studying. These five kinds of wholesome roots are briefly used to illustrate that the arising signs of external wholesome dharmas are not uniform. The reason they all belong to external wholesome dharmas is that their original practice was entirely cultivated in a distracted mind; because they were not yet able to transcend the desire realm and bring forth undefiled dhyāna-concentrations, they are called external wholesome dharmas. Second, explaining internal wholesome dharmas: these are the five gates of dhyāna: 1. The gate of ānāpāna; 2. The gate of contemplation of impurity; 3. The gate of the mind of loving-kindness; 4. The gate of causes and conditions; 5. The gate of the samādhi of mindfulness of the Buddha. These five Dharma gates comprehensively subsume all dhyānas and bring forth the undefiled, and are therefore called internal wholesome dharmas.