六妙法門 1.18

1.18

The practitioner should know that if one departs from object and knowledge wishing to return to absence of object and knowledge, one is still not free from the bondage of object and knowledge, because one is following the two extremes. At that time one should abandon the gate of turning back and settle the mind in the path of purification. Purification also has two aspects: first, cultivating purification; second, realizing purification. Cultivating purification means that because one knows form is pure, one does not give rise to false thoughts and discrimination; sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this. Calming the defilement of false thoughts is called cultivating purification; calming the defilement of discrimination is called cultivating purification; calming the defilement of grasping at a self is called cultivating purification. To state the essentials: if the mind can be like original purity, this is called cultivating purification; furthermore, not apprehending the one who can cultivate, what is cultivated, the pure, or the impure—this is called cultivating purification. Realizing purification means that when cultivating in this way, the mind and wisdom suddenly correspond, unhindered skillful means naturally open up, [entering] correct reception of samādhi, with the mind having nothing to rely upon. Realizing purification has two aspects: first, approximate realization, wherein wisdom of the five skillful means similar to the uncontaminated path arises; second, true realization, wherein the true uncontaminated wisdom arises, from the dharma-forbearance regarding suffering up to the ninth unhindered path, and so forth. Because the defilements of the three realms are exhausted, it is called realizing purification.