釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 9.34

9.34

Furthermore, it is taught in the *Mahāyāna-[śāstra]* that if one skillfully cultivates the nine notions, they open the gate of the application of mindfulness to the body; the application of mindfulness to the body opens the gate of the other three applications of mindfulness; the four applications of mindfulness open the gate of the thirty-seven aids to awakening; the thirty-seven aids to awakening open the gate of nirvāṇa; and because one enters nirvāṇa, all sorrow and suffering are extinguished. Because bodhisattvas pity sentient beings, although they can enter nirvāṇa through the nine notions, they also do not take realization of the actual limit (bhūtakoṭi). Why is this? If there were no mark of savor in form, sentient beings would not be attached to form; if there were no mark of detachment in form, they could not attain liberation from form either. Because there is savor in form, sentient beings are attached to form; because there is the mark of detachment in form, sentient beings attain liberation from form. Yet savor is not identical with detachment, and detachment is not identical with savor; apart from the place of savor there is no place of liberation, and apart from the place of liberation there is no place of savor. Know that form is neither bound nor liberated. At that time, one neither follows birth and death nor realizes nirvāṇa, but solely with great compassion pities all sentient beings, and within this impure contemplation accomplishes all buddha-dharmas. The *Pañcaviṃśati-sāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā Sūtra* says: 'The nine notions are themselves the Mahāyāna of the bodhisattva.'