Withholding Explicit Elucidation of Esoteric Meaning Serves to Enable the Realization of Manas

In Buddhism, all Dharma that requires realization belongs to the esoteric Dharma. The so-called esoteric Dharma means that these teachings must be personally investigated and verified through one's own efforts; one should not expect ready-made answers from others, nor should one speculate or imagine using the conscious mind. Answers obtained directly from others or conceived through speculation and imagination only correspond to the conscious mind, which may be easily understood and grasped, whereas the mental faculty cannot comprehend or master them. For the mental faculty to understand and master these teachings, it must undergo a process of investigative inquiry. The mental faculty must personally participate in the conscious mind's process of reasoning and verification, comprehending every detail transmitted by consciousness, mastering each piece of evidence, and subjecting it to examination and deliberation. Only when the evidence is sufficient can the mental faculty deliberate clearly and ultimately attain true knowledge. If the mental faculty remains unaware, realization cannot occur; if the mental faculty fails to realize, doubt arises; and where doubt persists without resolution, the meritorious fruition of liberation cannot be attained.

Therefore, in Buddhism, not only does the Mahayana tradition strictly prohibit explicit disclosure of esoteric meanings, but even in the Hinayana tradition, overly specific descriptions of contemplative practices must be avoided to prevent the conscious mind from knowing while the mental faculty remains unaware. If explicitly stated, the conscious mind may quickly comprehend, leaving no room for further investigation. Without undergoing the process of investigative inquiry, the mental faculty cannot attain understanding or realization. If the mental faculty remains doubtful and unresolved, then the meritorious fruition of liberation cannot be experienced.