What Does It Mean to Rely on Wisdom, Not on Consciousness?

When the Buddha was nearing Nirvana, he instructed his disciples that in the study and practice of the Dharma, they must strictly adhere to the principle of the Four Reliances and Four Non-Reliances: Rely on the Dharma, not on persons; rely on wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness; rely on the meaning, not on the words; rely on the definitive meaning, not on the provisional meaning. Though there are only these four principles, putting them into practice is extremely difficult, and most people cannot accomplish it.

Among them, "rely on wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness" is not something ordinary people or ordinary Bodhisattvas can achieve. Firstly, this "wisdom" is not something ordinary individuals can fully possess. This wisdom arises from the transformation of the consciousness of ordinary beings and the consciousness of Bodhisattvas before the Path of Seeing at the stage of Worthiness. It is the wisdom attained after the transformation of consciousness into wisdom—specifically, the wisdom of sublime observation (from the sixth consciousness) and the wisdom of equality (from the seventh consciousness, the manas). It is the wisdom of the consciousness-only mode of knowing (vijñapti-mātra-jñāna), the profound great wisdom possessed by Bodhisattvas on the Bodhisattva grounds (bhūmis). The Buddha warned sentient beings, "Your own mind is not trustworthy; only upon attaining the fruition of Arhatship can you trust your own mind." As he approached Nirvana, he further instructed them to rely solely on the consciousness-only wisdom of Bodhisattvas on the grounds, relying on the wisdom of sublime observation and the wisdom of equality. Thus, we see that the World-Honored One's two instructions echo and align with each other, encompassing the entire path of practice for both the Mahayana and Hinayana vehicles.

Why did the World-Honored One emphasize this so strongly and demand such strict adherence from his disciples? Because those who have attained the fruition of Arhatship have exhausted all afflictions, severed the fundamental ignorance in a single thought, and manifested the wisdom of liberation. Their wisdom is unobstructed, meaning their understanding of the Hinayana path to liberation is free from errors or omissions; thus, one can rely on their liberating insight. As for Bodhisattvas on the grounds who have transformed consciousness into wisdom, they have also eliminated the obscurations of afflictions, retaining only very subtle ego-clinging. They possess the profound wisdom of sublime observation and the wisdom of equality, with Mahayana and Hinayana wisdom that is extremely deep and sharp. Their insight is penetrating, and only then can one rely on their understanding of all Buddhist teachings. Regarding all others, the Buddha said, "Do not trust your own mind," because they have obscurations of afflictions, lack wisdom, and possess relatively serious errors and omissions.