How to Determine the Genuine Eradication of Self-View

Question: After progressively observing the impermanence, suffering, and non-self of the five aggregates, and no longer giving rise to self-view and self-possessiveness regarding feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, what further progress can be made? What is the subsequent direction? Or is it that after maintaining this state of uncontrived stillness and simplicity for a period of time, one will automatically realize "birth is exhausted, what was to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being"? Because in my practice, shortly after emerging from meditation (within an hour or two), the "monkey mind" returns, and the tendency to grasp and contrive arises again. I find myself in this cycle repeatedly. I feel there might be some point where I haven't fully connected with the Buddha's teachings.

Answer: Self-realizing that "birth is exhausted, what was to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being" is an attainment realized only upon reaching the fourth fruition, that of the great Arhat. We should not concern ourselves with that yet. First, focus on solidly and genuinely attaining the first fruition before considering what comes afterward. For those who have not severed self-view in past lives, attaining the first fruition is already extremely difficult.

When observing the five aggregates subject to clinging as suffering, empty, impermanent, and non-self, it is crucial to correctly discern whether one has genuinely realized that the five aggregates subject to clinging are indeed suffering, empty, impermanent, and non-self. This point is extremely important, a very critical juncture. One cannot merely assume "non-self is non-self."

During contemplative practice and reflection, the mind may seem very pure. However, when not engaged in contemplation after emerging from meditation, the sense of "I" still exists within the mind, and the mind becomes impure again. This indicates that self-view has not been truly severed; it is not genuine non-self. In that case, one should continue contemplative practice and persist in the work.