How to Contemplate Dharma Through the Method of Self-Suggestion

When practicing the Dharma through self-suggestion, the conscious mind must frequently suggest to the manas that the five aggregates are illusory and all dharmas are illusory, being merely the functional manifestations of the Tathāgatagarbha. Over time, the manas will come to accept this, enabling the eradication of the view of self, thereby unleashing one's potential and transforming oneself. This suggestion resembles self-hypnosis, adjusting oneself into a relatively quiet and serene state—a state where one can hear the inner voice—at which point self-suggestion becomes possible.

Take the content regarding eradicating the view of self mentioned above; slowly articulate it with appropriate intonation and rhythm to guide the manas toward acceptance. Allow the manas sufficient time to process the information, organize its thoughts, and contemplate the Dharma principles within the information. This requires a certain duration and a specific environmental setting, ensuring the manas does not focus on other issues but concentrates solely on the guided content. The mind must remain tranquil, peaceful, and serene to fully receive the guidance of the conscious mind. If the conscious mind can guide the manas to a certain point, the manas will contemplate accordingly. At this stage, the manas is relatively compliant, having been initially influenced, though not yet fully transformed. The key lies in whether the conscious mind can observe the manas's reactions, whether it possesses guiding experience, and whether it genuinely comprehends the principle of non-self. Such guided hypnosis can be repeated multiple times in suitable temporal and situational contexts. Provided the conscious mind is well-versed in the theory, capable of observing the manas, skilled in guiding it, and able to maintain a steady and serene state, the eradication of the view of self will inevitably be achieved in due course.