Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: Volume 34 (53)

Having rightly comprehended the marks of the Truth of Cessation, one further rightly comprehends the true path of counteraction. Regarding the objects of knowledge, because one is able to universally seek their meaning and to truly seek their meaning, it is called "accordance" (yu). Because one's bodily, verbal, and mental actions are able to follow the principle of the Four Noble Truths and continuously transform towards purity during the cultivation of the path, it is called "practice" (xing). After cultivating the path, the activities of the mind gradually subside and cease, tending towards Nirvana and emerging from the cycle of birth and death; this is called "emergence" (chu). Thus, the yogin, through these four aspects of the path—path (dao), accordance (yu), practice (xing), and emergence (chu)—understands the marks of the Truth of the Path. This is called the fully discerning attention involving the clear appearance of the Four Noble Truths within oneself.

What does the "true path of counteraction" mean? "Path" (dao) refers to the method, the way, the path. "Counteraction" (duizhi) means counteracting the mental afflictions of greed, hatred, delusion, and ignorance. Ignorance is not knowing suffering, not knowing the origin of suffering; therefore, one counteracts this lack of knowing, transforming it into knowing. If there were no ignorance, counteraction would be unnecessary. The path cultivated for the sake of cessation of suffering and abandonment of its origin is called the "path" (dao). The process of ceasing suffering is cultivating the path: cultivating morality, concentration, and wisdom; the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment; contemplating and practicing the Four Noble Truths. This is the "path aspect" (dao xing).

"Accordance practice" (yu xing) causes the mind to accord with the truth, the principle of the Dharma, that suffering is empty, impermanent, and without self. Regarding the objects of knowledge, the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths, one is able to penetrate deeply and contemplate their true principle, to contemplate and practice their Dharma principle truly and accurately, thoroughly understanding the inner meaning and correct principle of the objects of knowledge, thereby realizing the truth of the Four Noble Truths. "Practice practice" (xing xing): On the basis of "accordance practice" which severs ignorance, the activities of the mind transform. All mental activities conform to the truth that has been cognized and do not contradict the true principle of suffering's emptiness, impermanence, and absence of self. "Emergence practice" (chu xing): Through cultivating the path, one abandons afflictions; bodily, verbal, and mental actions become pure; one no longer clings to the world of the five aggregates; one becomes tranquil and non-active; body and mind are liberated, tending towards Nirvana, in accord with Nirvana, emerging from the three realms, liberated from the suffering of the cycle of birth and death.

Through these four aspects—path (dao), accordance (yu), practice (xing), and emergence (chu)—one understands the Truth of the Path. From the above four aspects, it is known that during the process of cultivating the path, morality, concentration, and wisdom increase; the cognition of the world of the five aggregates accords with the true principle; ignorance diminishes; afflictions lessen; the activities of the mind do not contradict the Noble Path; body, mind, and the world gradually transform. When purity reaches a certain degree, one accords with the path and accords with the sages, thereby realizing the Noble Path. It is not that the transformation of body and mind only slowly begins after attaining the fruit. If body and mind are not transformed to the point of accordance with the sages, one cannot become a sage. It is like a student taking an exam: if one does not pass, one cannot enter the school; the principle is the same.