When Can We Attain Non-Attachment to Forms and Discriminations?

After attaining the initial fruit of severing the view of self, one can break through the notions of self, person, sentient beings, and life span. However, one still cannot detach from grasping and discriminating the appearances of the five aggregates of sentient beings. Even after enlightenment, it remains extremely difficult not to grasp appearances, especially after the loss of meditative concentration. Most of the time, one still inevitably grasps and discriminates appearances. Bodhisattvas below the eighth ground fundamentally cannot achieve complete non-grasping and non-discrimination of appearances. Ordinary beings cannot withstand even a minor trial. No matter how much they train themselves not to dwell on or grasp appearances, ordinary beings inevitably revolve within appearances. Although ordinary beings often claim they do not grasp or discriminate appearances, they do so every minute; they fundamentally cannot avoid grasping and discriminating appearances.

Due to severe deficiencies in meditative concentration and the measure of realized wisdom, it is fundamentally impossible for them not to grasp and discriminate appearances. The conscious mind might forcibly suppress it for a minute, but it cannot hold out for two minutes. Not grasping and discriminating appearances is exceedingly difficult to achieve. Thinking about it is easy; speaking about it is easy. But to actually accomplish it, one must realize that all appearances are unreal. One can only achieve to the extent of one's realization; mere thought is useless, and mere speech is even more futile. Even if an ordinary being cultivated for another immeasurable kalpa, it is uncertain to what degree they could achieve non-grasping and non-discrimination of appearances. Arhats likewise cannot completely avoid grasping and discriminating appearances, because arhats have not realized the Mahayana Dharma and thus inevitably grasp and discriminate appearances. If arhats could avoid grasping and discriminating appearances, they would not cling to the suffering of the Saha World and single-mindedly seek to escape its realm to attain complete nirvana.