Visuddhimagga VIII-212

Yathā hi maṭṭhasāṭakassa tunnakaraṇakāle sūcipi sukhumā icchitabbā.

譬如缝细妙的衣服时，针要细，

Ñ(VIII,212): Just as when doing needlework on a piece of fine cloth a fine needle is needed,

Sūcipāsavedhanampi tato sukhumataraṃ,

穿针孔的更要细，

Ñ: and a still finer instrument for boring the needle's eye,

evameva maṭṭhasāṭakasadisassa imassa kammaṭṭhānassa bhāvanākāle sūcipaṭibhāgā satipi,

如是修习（安般念）业处之时像缝细妙之衣，像针的念，

Ñ: so too, when developing this meditation subject, which resembles fine cloth, both the mindfulness, which is the counterpart of the needle,

sūcipāsavedhanapaṭibhāgā taṃsampayuttā paññāpi balavatī icchitabbā.

及如穿针孔的（与念）相应的慧必须坚强。

Ñ: and the understanding associated with it, which is the counterpart of the instrument for boring the needle's eye, need to be strong.

Tāhi ca pana satipaññāhi samannāgatena bhikkhunā na te assāsapassāsā aññatra pakatiphuṭṭhokāsā pariyesitabbā.

其次具足了此念与慧的比丘，对于出入息（之相）不应向自然的触处（鼻孔或上唇）以外去希求。

Ñ: A bhikkhu must have the necessary mindfulness and understanding and must look for the in-breaths and out-breaths nowhere else than the place normally touched by them.

Visuddhimagga VIII-211

230. Kiñcāpi hi yaṃkiñci kammaṭṭhānaṃ satassa sampajānasseva sampajjati.

虽然任何业处都只是念者及正知者而成就，

Ñ(VIII,211): Although any meditation subject, no matter what, is successful only in one who is mindful and fully aware,

Ito aññaṃ pana manasikarontassa pākaṭaṃ hoti.

但于此（安般念）以外的（业处）作意者是明了的。

Ñ: yet any meditation subject other than this one gets more evident as he goes on giving it his attention.

Idaṃ pana ānāpānassatikammaṭṭhānaṃ garukaṃ garukabhāvanaṃ buddhapaccekabuddhabuddhaputtānaṃ mahāpurisānaṃyeva manasikārabhūmibhūtaṃ,

然而这重要而难修的安般念业处，只是佛、辟支佛、佛子等大人物的作意境地，

Ñ: But this mindfulness of breathing is difficult, difficult to develop, a field in which only the minds of Buddhas, Paccekabuddhas, and Buddhas' sons are at home.

na ceva ittaraṃ, na ca ittarasattasamāsevitaṃ.

不是低的有情所能习得的。

Ñ: It is no trivial matter, nor can it be cultivated by trivial persons.

Yathā yathā manasi karīyati,

对于（安般念）作意，

Ñ: In proportion as continued attention is given to it,

tathā tathā santañceva hoti sukhumañca.

则愈加寂静而微细，

Ñ: it becomes more peaceful and more subtle.

Tasmā ettha balavatī sati ca paññā ca icchitabbā.

故于此（修习）必须有强念与强慧。

Ñ: So strong mindfulness and understanding are necessary here.