What Are the Coarse Defilements Eradicated by the First Fruition?

An object possesses both coarse and fine aspects. The coarse aspect is relatively obvious and prominent, immediately visible and perceptible, while the fine aspect manifests after the coarse aspect, is not easily discernible, and requires careful attention to perceive and recognize. Similarly, a dharma is divided into coarse and subtle parts, and even the discerning mind is categorized as coarse and fine.

Since afflictions are dharmas, and specifically mental dharmas, they are also divided into coarse and fine. Coarse afflictions refer to coarse and heavy afflictions. Coarse afflictions denote the more obvious parts, the content easily detected. "Heavy" signifies severity. Evident, coarse afflictions are necessarily more serious or very heavy afflictions, parts that everyone can see and perceive, parts that should not exist, are unacceptable and impermissible in the mundane world, and should be the first afflictions to be eradicated. Since even mundane people cannot tolerate coarse and heavy afflictions, they are even more impermissible to exist or manifest within the practice community, especially in the realm of sages and saints.

The six fundamental afflictions—greed, hatred, delusion, arrogance, doubt, and wrong views—each are divided into two major parts: coarse and fine. Among these, the fine afflictions can be further subdivided. Coarse and fine are relative terms. After removing the coarsest part, the remaining fine part can also be divided into coarse and fine, even to the extent of being continuously subdivided until reaching afflictions that can no longer be subdivided, which are the finest, most subtle afflictions. Ordinary beings are utterly incapable of discovering or discerning these afflictions; even bodhisattvas up to the seventh ground probably cannot discover or discern them. Only bodhisattvas on the eighth ground and above can eradicate them. Slightly less subtle afflictions cannot be discovered, discerned, or eradicated by ordinary beings due to insufficient wisdom. Even those who have initially realized the fruit and understood the mind cannot discern them, due to lack of experience and wisdom.

All afflictions can be roughly divided into three grades: superior, middling, and inferior. Each grade can be further subdivided into superior, middling, and inferior. Superior-grade afflictions are more obvious, prominent, and severe; they are the ones that should be eradicated first and are the most impermissible to exist, thus termed coarse and heavy afflictions. In the process of practicing the Four Noble Truths, these should be eradicated during the stage preliminary to the first fruition. Only after the coarse and heavy superior-grade afflictions are eradicated can one have the opportunity to become a candidate for the first fruition. Otherwise, one cannot even attain the stage preliminary to the first fruition, let alone the first to fourth fruitions.

For example, the affliction of greed can be divided into coarse and fine grades, totaling nine grades. If subdivided further, it can be divided even more. The coarsest part of greed is extremely severe or relatively severe, generally recognizable and perceptible to ordinary people, and intolerable. This should not exist; if it still exists, then one is a worldly being burdened by heavy afflictions. Examples include intense greed regarding wealth, intense greed concerning sexual desire and emotional attachments, intense greed for the physical body, intense greed for fame, gain, and offerings, etc., covering countless aspects. It is the same with other afflictions; the severe and obvious parts all belong to coarse and heavy afflictions and must be eradicated at the time of the first fruition or the stage preliminary to the first fruition.

If a person claims to have realized the fruit, understood the mind, and seen the true nature, yet their afflictions are still heavy, very obvious, easily detected by others, and unacceptable, we can judge that this person is committing a grave false claim. Even if this person has a wealth of theories and speaks the Dharma eloquently and eloquently, based on the afflictions manifested through their physical, verbal, and mental actions, it can be determined that they are an ordinary being. Pay no heed to their eloquence or theoretical level; theoretical knowledge does not represent actual realization.

If a person claims to have attained a certain fruition and then tells others about it, but if others harbor doubts, this person becomes very afflicted, gives rise to hatred, becomes angry with others, abuses or retaliates against others, and forms enmity, then it can be determined that this person has not attained that fruition. Their afflictions are too coarse and heavy, even exceeding those of ordinary worldly beings. Those who rely on the Dharma they have learned to despise others, slander and attack others, and bully the weak can basically be determined to be ordinary beings burdened with coarse and heavy afflictions.