The Relationship Between the Mental Factors of Adhimokṣa and Prajñā

The treatise states that adhimokṣa (resolute conviction) is the affirmation of an object, knowing the object as it is, believing the object as it is, without error or doubt. For example, when the mind encounters a flower or the moon, it will resolutely recognize them as a flower and the moon, without hesitation, able to trust its own understanding and not be easily swayed; this is adhimokṣa. The character "胜" (victorious) emphasizes the degree of understanding regarding the object, approaching the reality of the object. However, it is not yet the ultimate complete certainty, nor is it the realization of the object's true nature. Therefore, there is the subsequent mental factor of prajñā (wisdom). Only when the mental factor of prajñā arises can one realize the object, become certain of it, and fully comprehend the reality of the flower and the moon. 

Adhimokṣa is equivalent to knowing what something is, while prajñā is equivalent to knowing why it is so. One is understanding (adhimokṣa), the other is realization (prajñā). Adhimokṣa is preliminary wisdom, the foundation of prajñā, while prajñā is the ultimate, final cognition. In the practice and realization of the Dharma, the mental factor of adhimokṣa corresponds to comprehension (解悟), and the mental factor of prajñā corresponds to realization (证悟). For comprehension to transform into realization, one must pass through the two stages of the mental factors of mindfulness (smṛti) and concentration (samādhi). One must firmly imprint the understood Dharma in the mind, recollecting it constantly without forgetting, cultivate meditative concentration (dhyāna), fix the mind unwaveringly upon this Dharma for continuous investigation, until finally the mind opens with certainty, great wisdom manifests, and realization is attained. 

Resolutely recognizing a flower and the moon is a mundane matter; it may seem not too difficult. As long as one possesses the concepts and knowledge of worldly phenomena, has normally functioning sense faculties, and is free from obscurations, one will resolutely recognize the flower and the moon, which also contains some relatively shallow understanding and wisdom. However, reaching the level of adhimokṣa in the Dharma is not easy. One must possess the relevant knowledge and concepts of the Dharma, and also practice the Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment to reduce the obscurations of karmic hindrances, before one can attain adhimokṣa. Yet, there remains a considerable distance from realization (prajñā). One must also perfect certain conditions and causes to smoothly attain realization.