The Levels of Enlightenment Differ According to Merit, Virtue, Concentration, and Wisdom

With the presence of the conscious mind, there arise the five aggregates of feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. Through contemplation and practice, one discerns the empty, illusory, and non-self nature of the five aggregates, thoroughly realizing the illusory nature of both the physical body and the conscious mind. When this is firmly affirmed and accepted, one can sever the view of self and witness the fruit. When conditions such as merit and virtue are sufficient, contemplation and reflection can be applied to any dharma, enabling one to eradicate the view of self. One may also attain realization of the eighth consciousness through contemplation and practice, depending on merit, meditative stability, wisdom, and the maturity of causes and conditions. Severing the view of self and witnessing the fruit occurs at different levels, and the enlightenment of the mind is also divided into many stages: there is the enlightenment of the seventh abiding stage, the enlightenment of a first-ground Bodhisattva, the enlightenment of a Bodhisattva of various grounds, and the enlightenment of the Buddha-ground. Each individual's level and depth of realization differ, resulting in significant variations in the wisdom attained.