The Observational Wisdom of the Mahayana Path of Seeing

During the process of deep concentration and profound doubt in Chan investigation, the five aggregates and eighteen realms are gradually eliminated, and their reality is denied, thereby confirming their selfless nature. This severs the view of self and attains the purification of the Dharma-eye in the Hinayana path. Without the obscuration of the five aggregates and eighteen realms, one is then not far from the Mahayana path of seeing. When consciousness and the mental faculty, through Chan investigation, realize the Tathagatagarbha, they can observe the simple functioning of the Tathagatagarbha, which is non-discriminative toward the six dusts. In this way, the prajna wisdom of the Mahayana path of seeing is attained.

With this wisdom, one observes that the Tathagatagarbha is a selfless mental essence that is neither born nor perishes, yet it gives birth to the self-possessing five-aggregate body that undergoes birth and death. Simultaneously, one observes how the Tathagatagarbha gives rise to the five aggregates, realizing that the five aggregates are indeed empty and selfless, and clearly understanding why they are empty and selfless. Such wisdom is far more profound and ultimate than the wisdom of severing the view of self in the Hinayana path. As for eradicating the fundamental affliction obstructions and cognitive obstructions, that belongs to subsequent stages of practice, occurring after the attainment of the first dhyana, and also after the stages of the Ten Practices and Ten Dedications.