釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 7.12

7.12

Second, as for discerning the stages: the stages of these six subtle gates are not fixed. Why is this? If one skillfully practices the six dharmas in the desire realm and the anāgamya, and the sixth, the pure mind, is perfected, one immediately elicits the undefiledness of the three vehicles; how much more so if one advances to attain the various dhyānas of the higher grounds—how could one not swiftly realize the path? Although this differs from what precedes, the Ruiying jing therefore says: "Relying on these six dharmas, wandering and abiding in the three and the four, twelve are produced." Deducing from this, we therefore know that the stages of these six subtle gates are indeed not fixed.