How to Rely on Prajñā Instead of Vijñāna?

When the Buddha was about to enter Nirvana, he instructed his disciples that in the study and practice of the Dharma, they must strictly adhere to the principle of the four reliances and four non-reliances: rely on the Dharma, not on persons; rely on wisdom, not on consciousness; rely on the meaning, not on the words; rely on the definitive meaning, not on the provisional meaning. Although there are only these four, they are extremely difficult to practice, and the vast majority of people cannot accomplish them.

Among them, "rely on wisdom, not on consciousness" is not something ordinary people or ordinary Bodhisattvas can achieve. First, this "wisdom" is not something ordinary people can possess. This wisdom arises from the transformation of the consciousness of ordinary beings and the consciousness of Bodhisattvas before the first ground who have realized the path. It is the wisdom resulting from 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 exclusive consciousness of the Buddha-knowledge, the profound great wisdom possessed by Bodhisattvas on the grounds. The Buddha warned sentient beings, "Do not trust your own mind; only when you attain the fruition of Arhatship can you trust your mind."

When nearing Nirvana, he again instructed that one must rely on the exclusive consciousness of the Buddha-knowledge of Bodhisattvas on the grounds, relying on the wisdom of marvelous observation and the wisdom of equality. Thus, we see that the World-Honored One's two instructions correspond to each other, consistent from beginning to end, encompassing the practice of both the Hinayana and Mahayana.

Why did the World-Honored One emphasize this so strongly and impose such strict requirements on his disciples? Because those who have attained the fruition of Arhatship have completely severed afflictions, eradicated the fundamental ignorance, and manifested liberating wisdom. Their wisdom is unobstructed, corresponding to the conceptual framework of the Hinayana path of liberation. Only then are they free from errors and omissions, and one can rely on their liberating insight. As for Bodhisattvas on the grounds who have transformed consciousness into wisdom, they have also eliminated the obscurations of afflictions, retaining only very subtle ego-clinging. They possess profound wisdom of marvelous observation and wisdom of equality, with exceedingly deep and sharp wisdom in both Hinayana and Mahayana. Their insight is penetrating, and one can rely on their understanding of all Buddhist teachings. Regarding others, the Buddha said, "Do not trust your own mind," because they are obscured by afflictions, lack wisdom, and are prone to serious errors and omissions.