The Reason for the Failure to Realize Anātman

We know that this physical body is not the self, yet we are unable to sever the view of self. Why? This is a matter of wisdom. Firstly, the conscious mind lacks the wisdom of selflessness; it does not know how to contemplate and reflect, nor how to gather evidence and information, nor how to imbue the manas (mind faculty). Secondly, insufficient meditative concentration prevents focused contemplation, hindering the manas from accepting the concepts presented by the conscious mind. Consequently, the manas cannot concentrate on evaluating the evidence and information gathered by consciousness, making it impossible to eradicate the view of self.

The deeply ingrained notions held by the manas since beginningless kalpas are the most difficult to overturn. Although the conscious mind may clearly recognize at times that the physical body is impermanent, arising and ceasing, and thus cannot be the true self, the manas remains incapable of accepting this truth. This is precisely where the blockage lies. Most of the time, the evidence provided by consciousness is also inconclusive. For instance, one may know that the proposition "one plus one equals two" is correct, yet not understand why it is correct. If even consciousness lacks this understanding, the manas is even less likely to grasp it.

Contemplating the selflessness of the physical body can be approached from various angles. For example, if a hand is cut off, contemplate: Is that hand me? No, because the hand is gone, yet I still exist. If the hand were me, then I would cease to exist, which shows that the hand is not me. After the eyes are removed, do I not still exist? Then the eyes are not me. When the ears are cut off, I still remain; I do not die, so the ears are not me. If the head is decapitated, I may die along with it, but if I truly cease to exist, there would be no future self in subsequent lives. This shows that the physical body is not me either. Was the 'me' of yesterday me? If it was me, where has that 'me' from yesterday gone? Condense these questions into a single thought and hold it suspended in your mind. One day, the manas will eventually understand: "Ah, so it is like this—the physical body, the five aggregates, none of them are me." At that moment, the view of self will be severed.