Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

"pure dhyana." These are so called because all "tastes"
and therefore dangers of defilement are no longer
experienced in them. Into this category are placed the
six meditation stages taught in the Tian Tai School and
known as the Six Mystic Gates. Besides these, the
Sixteen Excellences (see Chapter IX) should be
mentioned here, all stages of meditation progressing
from the Hinayana to the Mahayana. Some of them may
be described later.
In none of these dhyanas are Buddhist concentration and
wisdom balanced. There is always more stress on the
former, while wisdom is insufficient in power to effect
liberation. What is present here is still only half-matured
wisdom, but by its development there is a basis for the
growth of supramundane wisdom.
b. BEYOND THE WORLD. Of the great divisions, the
second is called "beyond the world" (lokuttara), since to
attain these dhyanas it is necessary to have cut off all
worldly (laukika) attachments and to have experience of
the transcendental leading at least to Arhatship.
Included here are the development of the Nine Thoughts
of Impurity, sometimes called "the Cemetery
Contemplation" (see Chapter VIII, G.1.a.). Following
these come the Eight Thoughts of Renunciation (see
Chapter VIII, G.1.), the Ten All-Realms, and the Nine
Degrees of Concentration (Chapter VII). But, said Mr.
Chen, these classifications are not very clear or precise.
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