How to Eliminate the Grasping Nature of the Mental Faculty

If the grasping and clinging nature of the mental faculty (manas) is subdued, then wherever one sits, the mind becomes empty, and samadhi (meditative concentration) manifests. Walking, standing, sitting, and lying down become as if one is within emptiness. As clinging diminishes, body and mind become light and tranquil. Therefore, emptiness first involves emptying the mental faculty, after which the mental consciousness becomes empty, leaving the inner mind utterly void.

To eliminate the mental faculty's clinging to the five aggregates (skandhas), one must allow the mental faculty, in a state of samadhi, to slowly and meticulously follow the mental consciousness's contemplation practice. Let the mental faculty gradually ponder and consider the content contemplated and thought by the mental consciousness. Once the mental faculty truly ponders and understands, confirming that the five aggregates are indeed illusory and empty, one attains the realization of the selflessness (anātman) of the five aggregates. Merely knowing this principle with the mental consciousness alone, without the mental faculty being certain and confirmed, is not true realization. If the mental faculty lacks concentration, being scattered and clinging, it is unable to focus on considering the Dharma principles and cannot attain realization. Only when the mental faculty has concentration, free from scattering and clinging, can the mind be focused and concentrated, enabling it to ponder, observe, and finally confirm, thereby eliminating ignorance.

During specific contemplation practice, first contemplate how the aggregate of form arises and ceases, contemplate how the aggregate of sensation arises and ceases. Slowly and carefully ponder and observe, gradually accepting the suffering, emptiness, and impermanence of the aggregates of form and sensation. Without concentration, only the mental consciousness's thinking and analysis occur, unable to penetrate deeply into the mental faculty. Consequently, the mental faculty cannot accept this principle and may even resist it.

Observe the arising and ceasing of the aggregate of perception. For example, while drinking tea, observe how the knowing and clinging nature regarding the taste of tea arises and ceases; while hearing sounds, observe how the knowing and clinging nature regarding sounds arises and ceases. Give the mental faculty sufficient time and energy, allowing it slowly and quietly to ponder and consider, letting it accept, letting it follow the direct perception (pratyakṣa) observation of the mental consciousness and engage in its own consideration. With concentration, the contemplation practice can penetrate deeply into the mental faculty. All Dharma practices aim to let the mental faculty accept and acknowledge, then transform. The mental faculty believes that seeing is believing.

Observe the arising and ceasing of the aggregate of mental formations. The arising and ceasing of bodily, verbal, and mental actions—such as taking tea, brewing tea, and drinking tea—are all part of the aggregate of mental formations. Observe how this aggregate arises and ceases, how it is characterized by suffering, emptiness, and impermanence, and how it is selfless. Then the mental faculty confirms this, eradicating the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi). Subsequent practice involves gradually eliminating self-clinging (ātma-grāha). Contemplation practice requires samadhi. Within concentration, the mental faculty is given ample time and energy to contemplate the Dharma, personally proving the selflessness of the five aggregates. When the mental faculty is constantly clinging and extremely busy, merely hearing the Dharma principles cultivated by the mental consciousness, it has absolutely no energy to ponder and confirm them.

Observe the arising and ceasing of the aggregate of consciousness. When the eye perceives form, observe how eye consciousness arises and ceases; when hearing sounds, observe how ear consciousness arises and ceases. Observe each consciousness in this way. Observe the arising, ceasing, illusory nature, impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and selflessness of the six consciousnesses. It is essential to observe slowly and meticulously, penetrating deeply into the mental faculty, letting the mental faculty follow along in contemplating, observing, and acknowledging. Once the mental faculty acknowledges this, it can gradually relax its clinging to the five aggregates, and the eradication of self-clinging becomes hopeful.