Buddhist Sutras and Hinayana Treatises

The practice of the Hinayana tradition should still be based on the Agamas, especially the Samyuktagama, as taught by the Buddha. The treatises composed by others all contain varying degrees of inaccuracies, with details inconsistent with the Buddha's teachings. Even the treatises expounded by fourth-fruition Arhats contain discrepancies from the Buddha's words and should not be accepted in their entirety.

The errors and disputes found in those Hinayana treatises exceed even the controversies surrounding ancient Vijñānavāda. Such simple Dharma principles are still subject to endless debates and disagreements, revealing that the practice of the Dharma is indeed challenging. Because the practice of the Hinayana path to liberation is relatively elementary, many people compose texts and treatises, resulting in rather disorderly content, with numerous instances of conflicting interpretations. All this is karmically induced by the beings of the Saha World; such circumstances do not exist in other worlds.

The sutras state that after attaining the first fruition (Sotāpanna), one must cultivate the first dhyāna to progressively eradicate afflictions such as greed, hatred, and delusion, after which one can become a wisdom-liberated Arhat. Yet, those Hinayana treatises claim that a wisdom-liberated Arhat need not possess the first dhyāna nor even the access concentration (anāgamya-samādhi). To eradicate afflictions and attain the fourth fruition without cultivating any concentration whatsoever is sheer fantasy.

If we do not diligently practice in this life, lay a solid foundation, and achieve some accomplishment, the Dharma in future ages will degenerate into even greater confusion, making it nearly impossible to discern right from wrong. It will be exceedingly easy to fall into pitfalls set by the Evil One (Mara) and become unable to escape. The Evil One employs countless tactics, making them impossible to fully guard against. Therefore, we should instead vow to take refuge in the Three Jewels, rely on the Buddha's power for protection, and walk the correct path to liberation. This world is filled with demonic obstacles everywhere; if one’s merit is even slightly deficient, one will be obstructed without realizing it, or even if aware, be powerless to break free. Cultivating abundant merit, strengthening meditative concentration, and subduing karmic obstacles are paramount. When karmic obstacles manifest, one must have the capacity to break through them.