The Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime

From Buddha-Nature



The Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime
Book
Book

"The Six Gates to the Sublime" is a classic Buddhist meditation instruction manual explaining the six practices crucial to success in traditional Indian Buddhist breath-focused (anapana) meditation and calming-and-insight (samatha-vipasyana) meditation. Correctly implemented, these six "gates" lead the meditator to realization of the fourth of the four truths (cessation), of which the "sublimity" referenced in the title is one of the four canonically-described practice aspects.

This classic was written by the sixth-century monk and meditation master, Shramana Zhiyi (Chih-i), one of the most illustrious figures in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Master Zhiyi is famous for his role in the founding of the Tiantai teachings lineage and for his authorship of a quartet of meditation manuals of which this is one. The translator of this volume is the American monk, Bhikshu Dharmamitra, a translator of numerous classic works from the Indian and Chinese Buddhist traditions. (Source Accessed July 15, 2021)

Citation Dharmamitra, Bhikshu, trans. The Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime. By Śramaṇa Zhiyi (Chih-i). Kalavinka Buddhist Classics. Seattle: Kalavinka Press, 2009.


  • Acknowledgements6
  • Citation and Romanization Protocals6
  • About the Chinese Text6
  • Directory to Chapter Subsections9
  • The Translator's Introduction15
  • The Translation: The Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime21
    • Dhyāna Master Zhiyi's Preface23
    • Ch. 1: The Six Gates in Relation to the Dhyāna Absorptions29
    • Ch. 2: The Six Gates in Terms of Sequential Development37
    • Ch. 3: The Six Gates in Accordance with Suitability51
    • Ch. 4: The Six Gates as Means of Counteraction61
    • Ch. 5: The Six Gates in Terms of Mutual Inclusion71
    • Ch. 6: The Six Gates in Terms of Identities and Differences79
    • Ch. 7: The Six Gates in Accordance with Reversed Orientation91
    • Ch. 8: The Six Gates According to Contemplation of Mind109
    • Ch. 9: The Six Gates According to the Perfect Contemplation115
    • Ch. 10: The Six Gates According to Signs of Realization119
  • Endnotes141
  • About the Translator157