The Six Stages of Spiritual Cultivation: Knowledge, Comprehension, Inquiry, Realization, Faith, and Practice

When we hear someone speak of a matter, we immediately know it. However, knowing does not immediately equate to believing; it requires verification and validation before belief can arise. Only those with simple minds and insufficient wisdom fail to verify and immediately accept it, reacting without scrutiny. This process of verifying information corresponds to the process of realization. The initial hearing of another's account is akin to the consciousness's discernment; the subsequent knowing corresponds to the consciousness's comprehension; the following verification parallels the investigation by consciousness and the mental faculty (manas); and the final belief signifies the realization by consciousness and the mental faculty, along with the faith of the mental faculty. The subsequent practice signifies the mental faculty altering its course of action.

The entire process of Chan (Zen) practice can be summarized in six characters: Perceive (知), Comprehend (解), Investigate (参), Realize (证), Believe (信), and Practice (行). These six characters represent six stages of practice. The belief of consciousness corresponds to the first and second stages, which are omitted here.

Many mistake the perception and comprehension of consciousness for the ultimate goal of practice, thinking they have reached the end and become satisfied, thus growing arrogant. In truth, this is merely the beginning, not even reaching the intermediate stage. Only when the perception and comprehension of consciousness are correct and accord with principle can one proceed to the intermediate stage of investigation. It is evident that correct perception and comprehension by consciousness are also crucial and not easily attained. The vast majority remain stuck at this stage, unable to proceed and continue Chan investigation because the foundation is not yet solid—the understanding and views are not yet aligned with principle and are not properly established. If one remains at this stage believing it to be ultimate, how shallow their wisdom must be! No wonder they become conceited.

The "Believe" (信) in the later stages of the six is the true belief, called realized faith (证信) or genuine faith (真信). It is not devotional faith (仰信) or superstitious faith (迷信). The belief of consciousness is a form of devotional, superstitious, or reverential faith, not correct faith (正信), genuine faith, or realized faith.

Those who have not cultivated to the stage of correct faith, genuine faith, and realized faith may regress in their faith in the Dharma. This is because their foundation is unstable; their understanding and views are not fully established and have not undergone verification of the Dharma. Those with shallower roots require longer verification periods, while those with exceptionally good roots can verify it very quickly. One's practice truly cannot be judged by a single lifetime; it is essential to consider the foundation laid in past lives. The better the practice in past lives, the sharper the faculties, and the faster the present practice. When the mental faculty believes, practice follows. Only when the mental faculty realizes can it believe. The mental faculty must directly perceive the actuality (现量, pratyakṣa) to realize it. Why do so many practitioners still regress? Because it is not genuine belief; there is no actual realization.