How to Rely on Wisdom, Not on Consciousness

When the Buddha was about to enter parinirvāṇa, he instructed his disciples that in the practice and study of the Dharma, they must strictly adhere to the Four Reliances and Four Non-Reliances: rely on the Dharma, not on persons; rely on wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness; rely on the meaning, not on the words; rely on definitive teachings, not on provisional teachings. Though there are only these four principles, putting them into practice is extremely difficult, and the vast majority of people are unable to do so.

Among them, "rely on wisdom, not on ordinary consciousness" is not something that ordinary people or even ordinary bodhisattvas can accomplish. Firstly, this "wisdom" is not something that ordinary people possess. This wisdom is transformed from the consciousness of ordinary beings and the consciousness of bodhisattvas before the first bhūmi who have realized the path. It is the wisdom attained after the transformation of consciousness into wisdom—specifically, the wisdom of marvelous observation of the mental consciousness and the wisdom of equality of the mental faculty. It is the wisdom of the consciousness-only system, the profound great wisdom possessed by bodhisattvas on the bhūmis. The Buddha warned sentient beings, "Your mind is not to be trusted; only after attaining the fruition of arhatship can you trust your mind." When approaching parinirvāṇa, he again instructed them to rely solely on the wisdom of the consciousness-only system of bodhisattvas on the bhūmis, relying on the wisdom of marvelous observation and the wisdom of equality. Considering this, the World-Honored One's two instructions correspond perfectly, consistent from beginning to end, encompassing the entire path of practice in both Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna.

Why did the World-Honored One emphasize this so strongly and demand such strict adherence from his disciples? Because those who have attained the fruition of arhatship have completely eradicated afflictions, completely severed the fundamental ignorance of a single thought, and have manifested the wisdom of liberation. Their wisdom is unobstructed, equivalent to the view of the Hīnayāna path of liberation. Only then are they free from error and omission, and one can rely on their liberating insight. As for bodhisattvas on the bhūmis who have transformed consciousness into wisdom, they have also eliminated the obscurations of afflictions. Only a very subtle self-attachment remains uneradicated. They possess profound wisdom of marvelous observation and wisdom of equality; their wisdom in both Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna is exceedingly deep and sharp, and their insight is penetrating. Only then can one rely on their understanding of all Buddha Dharma. As for all others, the Buddha said, "Do not trust your mind at all," because they have the obscurations of afflictions, lack wisdom, and their errors and omissions are quite severe.