The Relationship Between Adhimokṣa and Prajñā as Caitasika Dharmas

The treatise states that adherence (adhimokṣa) is the affirmation of an object, recognizing and believing the object to be what it is, without error or doubt. For example, when the mind encounters a flower or the moon, it adheres to them as flower and moon, without doubt, able to trust its own understanding and not easily swayed; this is adherence. The character "胜" (shèng, meaning superior/victorious) emphasizes the degree of understanding regarding the object, approaching the reality of the object. However, it is not yet the final, complete certainty, nor has it realized the true nature of the object. Therefore, there is the subsequent mental factor of wisdom (prajñā). Only when the mental factor of wisdom arises can one realize the object, become certain of the object, and fully know the reality of the flower and the moon.

Adherence is equivalent to knowing "what" something is, while wisdom is equivalent to knowing "why" it is so. One is understanding, the other is realization. Adherence is shallow wisdom, the foundation of wisdom; wisdom is the ultimate, final cognition. In the practice and realization of the Dharma, the mental factor of adherence corresponds to intellectual comprehension, while the mental factor of wisdom corresponds to experiential realization. For intellectual comprehension to transform into experiential realization, one must pass through the two stages of the mental factor of mindfulness (smṛti) and the mental factor of concentration (samādhi). The Dharma that has been comprehended must be firmly impressed upon the mind, remembered unceasingly. Cultivating meditative concentration, the mind settles uninterruptedly upon this Dharma, investigating it continuously. Finally, the mind opens with conviction, great wisdom arises, and realization is attained.

Adhering to the flower and the moon is a mundane matter; it seems not particularly difficult. Merely possessing the concepts and knowledge of worldly phenomena, with the six sense faculties functioning normally and without obscurations, one can adhere to the flower and the moon. This also contains some relatively shallow understanding and wisdom. However, reaching the level of adherence in the Dharma is not easy. It requires possessing the relevant knowledge and concepts of the Dharma, as well as cultivating the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment, thereby lessening the obscurations of karmic hindrances, only then can one achieve adherence. But there is still a considerable distance to go before realization. Further perfecting certain causes and conditions is necessary for realization to occur smoothly.