What Is Non-Valid Cognition (Mistaken Perception)?

Erroneous cognition/non-valid cognition is a kind of mistaken cognition, a kind of wrong view (mithyā-dṛṣṭi). Before seeing one's true mind and awakening to one's nature, the cognition of self by the seventh consciousness is all erroneous cognition, all wrong view. Even after eliminating self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) and attaining the fruit of an arhat, the cognition of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha) as self is still not entirely direct perception/valid direct cognition, because an arhat still does not know what the substance of the five aggregates of body and mind actually is. Therefore, the one whose cognition of the five aggregates of body and mind is entirely observation through direct perception, without a single thread of wrong view, is the Buddha; the Buddha's wisdom is entirely wisdom of direct perception.

The erroneous cognition of the five aggregates as self comes entirely from the ignorance (avidyā) of the manas. Therefore, the entire purpose and the ultimate purpose of studying and practicing Buddhism is to break and utterly exhaust the erroneous cognition of the manas, to exhaust all the inverted wrong views of the manas. Once the manas's ignorance is completely severed, one immediately becomes one beyond training (aśaikṣa) in the Great Vehicle, with no further need to study and cultivate.