釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 7.77

7.77

Now, to clarify: awakening to the path does not necessarily require all sixteen; one may attain two or three sublime practices and immediately awaken. Also, one with sharp faculties may, upon first following the breath, awaken to impermanence and immediately attain the path. This varies according to the person and is not fixed. Because from the beginning the fundamental absorptions are co-activated, they are called “also defiled”; because within them one practices contemplation, analyzing and not clinging, they are called “also undefiled.” Therefore it is said that the sublime practices are dhyānas that are both defiled and undefiled. As for their vertical correspondence to the various dhyānas of the three realms, the characteristics of each contemplation can be seen in their ultimate meaning.