法界次第初門 2.103

2.103

Explaining the three samādhis after the nine sequential meditative attainments: the substance of the nine sequential meditative attainments is indeed none other than the three samādhis, yet they differ in division, combination, and enumeration, and their formulation is different, the meaning of which is as follows. Why? The nine sequential meditative attainments universally refine all dhyānas and have no separate substance of their own; the three samādhis are also like this. Hence one knows that in substance they are not different dharmas, yet they have no fixed names. Although the names and numbers of the nine attainments are many, they do not include intermediate [dhyānas]; although the names and numbers of the [three] samādhis are few, they encompass and combine the intermediate ones. The nine attainments, broadly speaking, derive their names from the principle and phenomena of the various dhyānas, while the samādhis, broadly speaking, receive their designations from the phenomena and principle of the various dhyānas. This is a slight difference; hence following the nine attainments, the three samādhis are explained. Generally speaking of 'samādhi': samādhi (sanmodi), in the language of Qin, is 'the place where the mind proceeds correctly.' From beginningless time onward, this mind has always been crooked and unupright; because it attains this straightness, it is called samādhi.