釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 7.22

7.22

First, cultivating turning back: having known that contemplation arises from the mind, if one follows the analyzed objects, this will not accord with the fundamental source; one should turn back to contemplate from where this mind arises: does it arise from a contemplating mind, or does it arise from a non-contemplating mind? If it arises from a contemplating mind, then contemplation would already exist beforehand, but now it is actually not so. Why is this? Because within the three dharmas of counting, following, and stopping, contemplation does not yet exist. If it arises from a non-contemplating mind, does it arise from a non-contemplating mind that has ceased, or from one that has not ceased? If it arises from one that has not ceased, then two minds would exist simultaneously; if it is a ceased dharma that has already passed away, it cannot produce the present [mind]; if one says it arises from both ceased and unceased, or even neither ceased nor unceased, all are untenable. One should know that the contemplating mind originally does not arise; because it does not arise, it does not exist; because it does not exist, it is empty; it is empty of a contemplating mind. If there is no contemplating mind, how could there be an object of contemplation? Both object and wisdom forgotten, this is the essential for returning to the source; this is called cultivating turning back.