How to Diligently Abandon Self-View

To eliminate the view of self, one should regularly contemplate the activities of the five aggregates. When the six sense faculties contact any of the six sense objects, clearly distinguish the five aggregates, observe their functions meticulously, contemplate their nature of suffering, emptiness, and impermanence, and diligently confirm their selfless nature. Engage in this contemplation with concentration—slowly, gently, deeply, carefully, bit by bit, without haste or agitation. Persevering diligently in this way, there will inevitably be moments when one breaks through the obstacles of the mind, moments when ignorance is shattered, and moments when the stubborn views of the mental faculty are reversed. At that time, the practice will have achieved preliminary success.

When time permits and environmental conditions allow, the activities of the body faculty should be slowed down as much as possible—the slower, the better; becoming as slow as a robot is ideal. Within this state, the mind becomes very tranquil and refined. Observing the activities of the body faculty and the activities of the consciousness, one may feel mechanical, as if these actions are not one's own, and may sense a certain unreality. The notion of self will then fade, making it easier to sever the view of the body and the view of self.

Further observe the consciousness within the activities of the body faculty: what the body consciousness is doing, what the mental consciousness is doing, and what the mental faculty is doing. Observe what the auxiliary eye consciousness is doing, what the ear consciousness is doing, what the nose consciousness is doing, how each arises, how they operate, how they closely coordinate, and finally, how they shift and vanish. Observe and seek the origin and destination of the consciousness, then observe the arising and subsiding of various mental thoughts, persistently tracing them to their source until the ultimate truth is seen.

The result is twofold: first, the ability to sever the view of self; second, the discovery of the source, leading to the realization of the mind and enlightenment.