坐禪三昧經 1.34

1.34

Answer: "Because the contemplation of impermanence is easily attained, because all discursive thoughts are severed, and because single-mindedness is attained. The arising and ceasing of body and mind is impermanent, yet because of resemblance and continuity it is difficult to see; but the arising and ceasing of the inhalation and exhalation is impermanent and easily known and easily seen. Furthermore, when the mind is tied to counting, all discursive thought and all ideation are severed. Discursive thoughts are: sensual thought, malicious thought, harmful thought, thought of kin, thought of homeland, and thought of not dying. One who wishes to seek a pure mind and enter the correct path should first eliminate the three coarse discursive thoughts, and next eliminate the three subtle discursive thoughts. Having eliminated the six thoughts, one will attain all pure dharmas. It is just like a gold-miner, who first eliminates the coarse stones and sand, then eliminates the fine stones and sand, and gradually obtains the fine gold dust."