法界次第初門 1.282

1.282

1. Knowing the in-breath. At the beginning of practicing the superior stages, one properly relies on following the breath; therefore taking knowing the in-breath as the gate replaces the initial method of counting the breath to harmonize the mind. Why is this? In counting breaths, one counts with an obscured mind, so contemplative wisdom is not bright. Now, knowing the in-breath illuminates the breath clearly, so understanding and wisdom easily arise; therefore, knowing the in-breath is used as the method to harmonize the mind. If one horizontally correlates the sixteen superior stages with the four bases of mindfulness, from knowing the in-breath onward there are five superior stages, all belonging to the contemplation of the mindfulness of the body.