維摩經疏卷第三．第六 6.13

6.13

Seventh, catechism: Question: Among the eight liberations, why are the third and the eighth named 'realized through personal embodiment'? Answer: These two are supreme, which is why they receive this name: the third is where, within liberations of form, obstacles gradually become without remainder; the eighth is where, within liberations of formlessness, obstacles gradually become without remainder. Therefore, they are specifically designated with the name 'realized through personal embodiment'. Question: Do trainees (śaikṣa) attain these eight liberations or not? Answer: According to the Hīnayāna, persons of the first two fruits have not transcended the desire realm and have not attained the fundamental four dhyānas, so they do not attain the eight liberations. If according to the Mahāyāna, persons of the first two fruits, using the contaminated path to subdue the afflictions of the desire realm, partially attain the seven liberations, but have not yet attained the eighth; persons of the third fruit attain all eight liberations, but are still not completely free of outflows; only persons of the fruit of non-training (aśaikṣa) attain them completely purified. Question: The first two liberations both take the object of impure physical forms; why are they divided into two liberations? Answer: Physical forms are distinguished into internal and external, which is why they are divided into two liberations. [Question:] If that is so, the object of space also has the two distinctions of internal and external, so it should also be divided into two liberations? Answer: When taking space as an object, one does not make a conceptualization of internal or external; therefore, it is united into only one liberation. Question: What is the difference between the 'body' in the third and the 'body' in the eighth? Answer: The third realizes the concentration with reference to the mental body; the eighth realizes the concentration with reference to the physical body. In cessation there is no mind, so it is definitely realized through the physical body.