English
"Thus these three qualities," etc., is the concluding statement. "Complete" means fully complete with the fulfillment of the sixteen bases. "Gradually" means in due order. "Practiced" means well-practiced. "This world" means the world of aggregates, etc., illumined by the light of wisdom. "Here" means in this place. "Of that" refers to the simile-like saw. "The purpose in bringing it" should be connected. "Sign" means the counter-sign. "Adorned with the remaining jhāna factors" means, they say, adorned with the remaining jhāna factors such as initial application. But it should be said, "with sustained application, etc.," because initial application is directly absorption. For it is designated as "absorption, pervasive absorption." If this is so, the word "remaining" is appropriate, or because concentration, which is predominant among the jhāna factors due to its association with initial application, is absorption, it is said, "the establishment called absorption, adorned with the remaining jhāna factors, is accomplished." However, in some old manuscripts, the text "gradually... (etc.)... becomes like a leaf" which will be stated above, is seen in relation to "from the time of attention, by way of enumeration alone." Therefore, this reading should also be written here, but it should be understood that it was omitted due to the fault of the scribes. "He suppresses the gross in-breaths and out-breaths," etc., was brought to show the method of investigating the bodily formation that has reached the state of being investigable, in the manner stated below. "From the place" means from the place previously grasped by way of contact. "The sign should be established" means the perception that grasps the previously grasped form-sign should be established at the place of contact. "Indeed, this very purpose" means depending on this cause, which is the method of the object's appearance to one who does not attend to it. "From this" means from the meditation subject of in-and-out breathing. "And its difficulty, due to the difficulty of development," he said. a "heavy cultivation." Having wandered, means having taken alms. Sign means the learning sign, or the counterpart sign. Both are said here together. Thus, the three similes of cotton fluff and so on are applicable to the learning sign, the rest to both. Like the form of a star means like the form of a star. Due to the diversity of perceptions means due to the diversity of perceptions that occurred before the manifestation of the sign. It is perceived means it is conceived by the perception of cultivation, not produced, because it does not exist. Therefore, it is said, "it appears diversely." It becomes thus means it appears thus to one devoted to cultivation. Thus means when this is so, when the mind is placed on the sign in the manner described. From this point onwards means from the arising of this counterpart sign onwards. On the sign means on the counterpart sign. Placing means placing the mind by way of establishment. Diverse forms means diverse forms as stated, "four colors." Making clear means making clear, making disappear. From the arising of the sign onwards, those forms are as if disappeared for one who does not attend to them. In-breaths and out-breaths means the diverse forms in the in-breaths and out-breaths, making them clear, or placing the mind on the signs arisen from in-breaths and out-breaths, one binds one's own mind. This is the connection. Some, however, say that "making clear" means making it known, making it manifest. That would be applicable in the preliminary stage. This is the meaning here: knowing the diverse forms in the in-breaths and out-breaths, placing the mind on the sign obtained therein, one gradually binds, one applies one's own mind. Defilements means the remaining defilements. Settled down means having not found an assistant to the hindrances, just subsided. In the access stage means in the access state. By characteristic means by the nature of suppression and so on, or by the nature of impermanence and so on. Alms-resort means the village for alms-gathering. Where suitable alms are difficult to obtain, that is unsuitable; the other is suitable. Speech means speech based on the ten topics of conversation, that is suitable; the other is unsuitable. In the remaining dwellings and so on. wherever the mind, being unfocused, becomes focused, that is suitable, the other is unsuitable, thus it should be understood. But for one who, having avoided the seven kinds of unsuitability in this way, and even while cultivating only what is suitable, does not attain absorption, then, showing the ten kinds of skill in absorption to be accomplished, he said, "clarification of the object," and so on. Therein, clarification of the object means making the internal body-object clear by cutting hair and nails, and so on, and making the external object clear by washing and preparing robes, dwellings, and so on. For in this way, knowledge also becomes productive of clear action. Attainment of faculty equipoise means making the faculties of faith, and so on, equal. Skill in the sign means skill in guarding the sign obtained in meditation. In "at the time when the mind should be restrained," and so on, at the time when the mind should be restrained due to agitation caused by over-exertion, and so on, then, by not cultivating the three factors such as the investigation of states of enlightenment, but by cultivating the three such as tranquility, there is restraint of the mind. When his mind should be encouraged due to sluggishness caused by excessive laxity of effort, and so on, then, by not cultivating the three factors such as the tranquility factor of enlightenment, but by cultivating the three such as the investigation of states, there is encouragement of the mind. When his mind is without relish due to dullness in the application of wisdom, and so on, then, by reflecting on the eight objects of urgency, and so on, there is arousal of urgency, which is called gladdening, of that mind. But when his mind, by practicing in this way, is not sluggish, not agitated, not without relish, proceeding evenly on the object, and entered upon the path of tranquility, then, by entering into non-engagement in encouraging, restraining, and gladdening, there is equanimity. Inclination towards that means inclination towards concentration, that is, the mind is bent, inclined, and tending towards concentration. "Here" means in this contemplation of the body. "Desiring to attain purity" means desiring to attain the fruit, and desiring to enter into absorption. Therein, first, by way of observing and not turning away He desires to attain the fruit immediately following the path. Beyond that, he also desires to enter the attainment of fruit by way of reflection. Thus, this meaning should be understood. Regarding "attainment of mastery in adverting, entering...etc.", having arisen from the attained jhāna, when one adverts to each of the jhāna factors such as initial application, and the life-continuum is cut off, and immediately after the arising of adverting, the kāmāvacara javana thoughts, which have as their object the jhāna factors adverted to, such as initial application, occur continuously, interspersed with the life-continuum, then his mastery in adverting is perfected. The mastery in entering, however, is the ability to enter quickly immediately after the desire to enter that jhāna. The mastery in resolving is the ability to maintain the jhāna for a moment, whether for the duration of one snap of the fingers or ten snaps of the fingers. Similarly, the mastery in arising is the ability to quickly arise from the jhāna by becoming endowed with the jhāna for a moment and then the arising of the life-continuum. Here, the masteries in resolving and arising are distinguished by the difference in the previous preparation performed, such as "I will enter for only this much time," and "I will arise from the jhāna after being endowed with the jhāna for only this much time," not by a difference in their nature, which are called "skill in attainment" and "skill in arising." The mastery in reviewing, however, is already stated by the mastery in adverting. For in the reviewing thought-process, the mastery in adverting is due to the quick arising of adverting, and the mastery in reviewing is due to the arising of the subsequent javana thoughts. Thus, it should be understood that with the perfection of the mastery in adverting, the mastery in reviewing is also perfected. "Having comprehended the jhāna factors" means having comprehended the jhāna factors associated with the jhāna consciousness by way of their characteristics and so on. "And they depend on them" means the dependence of those elements which are the physical bases. This is stated according to the Suttanta method, as the karajakāya (body born of kamma) is dependent on the elements of the ten bases, not according to the Paṭṭhāna method. For the elements contained in one group are not a condition of dependence for the elements contained in another group. But according to the Suttanta method, they should be understood as a condition of strong dependence. For in the Paṭṭhāna, It should be understood that all conditions are included in the condition of decisive support according to the Suttanta method. "Forms dependent on that" are derived forms. Here, "form, object, door, and object as grasped" should be understood as: the object of form, such as hair, as grasped; the object of the base as stated before; and the eye-door, etc., which arise through the grasping of the body of a washerman dependent on that, and the consciousness with its associated phenomena. "Blacksmith's bellows" are the bellows for blowing fire of blacksmiths. "They make it suitable" means they make it conform to that. "Of that" refers to name-and-form. "Seeing that" means seeing the condition of ignorance, craving, etc.