Abhidharmakośa-śāstra, Volume XXIII: The Four Preparatory Practices

Preface

This volume describes the four wholesome roots that arise in the course of a yogi's practice of the śrāvaka's four establishments of mindfulness: the wholesome root of heat, the wholesome root of the summit, the wholesome root of patience, and the wholesome root of the highest worldly dharma. These four wholesome roots are also the four stages of preparation (prayoga) prior to the śrāvaka's seeing of the Path. After engaging in these four preparatory practices, one will attain the purity of the dharma eye and realize the first fruit and even up to the fourth fruit. If one does not practice the four establishments of mindfulness but instead cultivates other dharmas of the Four Noble Truths, such as the contemplation of the white skeleton, these four wholesome roots will likewise arise, and one will be at the four stages of preparation, and only then can one see the Path and realize the fruits. 

Among the four wholesome roots: one who attains the wholesome root of heat, although still capable of regression, of cutting off the wholesome root, or even of committing karma leading to the Avīci hell so as to fall into evil destinies upon death, will not wander long in the cycle of the six destinies before reaching nirvāṇa. One who attains the wholesome root of the summit, although also subject to regression, does not lose the wholesome root—it is ultimately never severed—and will further increase the wholesome root. One who attains the wholesome root of patience has only increase and no regression of the wholesome root; at the end of life, one will no longer dwell at the stage of the unenlightened (pṛthagjana), will no longer create karma leading to the Avīci hell, will not fall into the evil destinies, will not be born by egg or by moisture, will not be born in the heaven of non-perception, in the continent of Uttarakuru, or in the abode of Mahābrahmā, will not be born as a eunuch or a hermaphrodite, will not be born an eighth time within the three realms, and the afflictions to be severed by seeing the Path will never again arise. One who attains the wholesome root of the highest worldly dharma, although still temporarily dwelling at the stage of the unenlightened, is able to enter the noble nature and depart from birth, and will certainly see the Path and escape the suffering of birth and death.