Abhidharmakośa-śāstra, Volume XXIII: The Four Preparatory Practices

This volume expounds the four wholesome roots generated by yogis during the practice of the Sravaka's Four Foundations of Mindfulness: the wholesome root of the Warmth Stage, the wholesome root of the Summit Stage, the wholesome root of the Forbearance Stage, and the wholesome root of the Supreme Worldly Dharma Stage. These four wholesome roots also represent the four preliminary stages before the Sravaka attains the Path of Seeing. After undertaking these four preliminary practices, one will attain the purification of the Dharma-eye and realize the first fruition (Srotapanna) up to the fourth fruition (Arhat). Even if one does not practice the Four Foundations of Mindfulness but cultivates other Noble Truth practices such as contemplation on the skeleton, these four wholesome roots will still arise, placing one in the four preliminary stages, ultimately enabling one to see the truth and realize the fruition.

Among these four wholesome roots, those who attain the wholesome root of the Warmth Stage may still regress, sever their wholesome roots, or commit karma leading to the Avici Hell, resulting in rebirth in lower realms upon death. However, within the cycle of the six realms, they will not wander for long before attaining nirvana. Those who attain the wholesome root of the Summit Stage may also regress, but their wholesome roots are not lost; they will ultimately not be severed and will even increase. Those who attain the wholesome root of the Forbearance Stage experience an increase in wholesome roots without regression. At the end of their lives, they will no longer abide in the status of an ordinary being, will not commit karma leading to the Avici Hell, will not fall into lower realms, will not take egg-born or moisture-born births, will not be reborn in the realm of non-perception, the northern continent of Uttarakuru, or the realm of Mahabrahma, will not be born as eunuchs or hermaphrodites, and will not take an eighth rebirth within the three realms. The defilements to be abandoned upon seeing the truth will ultimately never reappear. Those who attain the wholesome root of the Supreme Worldly Dharma Stage, although still temporarily abiding in the status of an ordinary being, are able to enter the state of right penetration into the birthless (nirvana) and will certainly attain the Path of Seeing, thereby transcending the suffering of birth and death.