釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 6.98

6.98

Answer: It is not so. In those six stages, it is merely that upon entering absorption the mind is subtle, and does not see the marks of coarse form, so the mind regards it as empty; yet in reality one has not been able to contemplate form, dismantle form dharmas, and sever the fetters of form. Therefore within absorption, at times one sees form, and at times one does not see form, unlike the absorption of space which once and for all permanently cuts off the marks of form. For this reason, although there are marks of space within the absorptions of the six stages, they are not called the formless absorption of empty space.