Found in the text Inscription On Refining Qi (Cunshen Lianqi Ming) by Sun Simiao -Translation by Livia Kohn). This text gives a description of the phases the mind goes through when training towards realizing Dao.
- The mind experiences much agitation and little stillness. Thinking is conditioned by a myriad different aspects of projected reality, accepting this and rejecting that without any constancy whatsoever. Dreads and worries, plans and calculations keep racing on inside like wild horses. This is the normal mind.
- The mind experiences a little stillness and much agitation. One controls agitation and enters stillness, yet the mind at once is scattered again. It is very hard to control and subdue, to curb its agitation and entanglement. This is the beginning of progress toward Dao.
- The mind experiences half agitation and half stillness. The quiet state of mind is like that of a controlled mind already, but this state is not maintained for long. Stillness and scattered mind are about equal, one makes the mind care about its own agitation and entanglement, thus it gradually gets used to stillness.
- The mind experiences plenty of stillness and only occasional agitation. One becomes gradually versed in controlling the mind, thus any agitation that arises is checked at once. The mind is fully one-pointed and when one-pointedness is lost it is immediately recovered.
- The mind is turned entirely towards clarity and stillness. Whether involved in or free from affairs, there is no agitation at all. From an efficiently controlled mind firmness and solidity arise, dispersing tendencies are stabilized and stability develops.
Only after one is firmly established in this can one enter the seven stages. Just leave all to the natural process and let it find spontaneous attainment. There is nothing to be actively done.