Can the Elimination Method Illuminate the Mind?

What is the method of elimination? For instance, one establishes a target in their mind and, within a chosen scope, eliminates objects different from the target. The remaining one is then established as the target in their mind. Regardless of whether the chosen scope is comprehensive or not, as long as they self-confirm, they consider themselves correct. The method of clarifying the mind and realizing the fruit is extremely simple.

Even if you train a dog well, the dog can use the method of elimination to find the object designated by its master. Other animals can learn this with training too, because it doesn't require much brainpower, isn't strenuous, doesn't need virtuous roots or merit, doesn't require meditative concentration (dhyāna), doesn't require upholding precepts, and doesn't require diligent cultivation of the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment. Even an illiterate person can seemingly clarify the mind and realize the fruit with a hint. For example, the master spreads out three cards, A, B, and C, in front of the dog and asks it to point out which one is C. The dog first points to A, and the master shakes his head saying it's wrong. Then the dog points to B, and the master again shakes his head saying it's not. Finally, only one card is left. Without thinking, it's obvious the remaining one is C. The dog naturally points to C, and the master says it's correct this time. The dog then becomes happy, feeling very capable, and even receives a bone as a reward from the master.

Using the method of elimination to find the eighth consciousness is similar. There are only eight consciousnesses altogether. The six consciousnesses that perceive the six dusts (objects of sense) are definitely not the eighth consciousness, so six are eliminated at once. That leaves the manas (mind faculty) and the eighth consciousness. Ordinary people truly cannot observe the manas and do not know what it is. Even if told it is the one that asserts mastery constantly and everywhere, they still cannot find it. Finding the manas is extremely difficult; observing its discerning nature is even more unthinkable. So, they eliminate the manas and stop looking for it, focusing solely on finding the eighth consciousness.

What is the eighth consciousness like? Many people know the eighth consciousness does not perceive the six dusts. So they search and search, finally finding something that seems not to perceive the six dusts. They speculate that this thing seems to have a discerning nature, but what it discerns doesn't seem to be the six dusts. As for what exactly it discerns, it's truly impossible to observe, because only those who possess the wisdom of differentiation (biexiangzhi) and the wisdom of the path-seeds (daozhongzhi) after enlightenment can observe the discerning nature of the eighth consciousness and know what exactly the eighth consciousness discerns. Ordinary people fundamentally lack the means to observe the discerning nature of the eighth consciousness, unless they speculate based on theory. Finally, they think the eighth consciousness seems to discern the physical body and the material world, because the sutras and treatises all say so. Then they decide it must be that, no mistake. So they hurriedly and happily go to confirm it, feeling as if they have no doubts, and claim to have severed the three fetters.

If such intelligence isn't innate, then it must be that water once got into their brain later in life. They are inferior even to children with slightly more developed brains. How could they be bodhisattvas who sincerely seek to cultivate and realize the bodhisattva path? They are utterly naive. If they encountered the patriarchs of the past, with the patriarchs' straightforwardness, they wouldn't say a single word to them but would directly strike them with a staff until their head splits open! How dare you defile the ancestral teachings? Kindergarten-level intelligence cannot be educated. If I weren't considering the rise and fall of the ancestral school, I wouldn't even deign to glance at such people. However, clarifying the mind within the school is the most crucial point of Buddhist practice, the life-gate concerning the birth and death of sentient beings, and the place of refuge and liberation for countless sentient beings in this life and future lives. If someone destroys this gate, sentient beings will never again be able to leap through the dragon gate like a carp.

Even doctrinally learned adherents (zhijie zongtu) are far more honorable than this method of elimination. The method of elimination doesn't require much doctrinal understanding or much intelligence. It's like picking beans: just pick out the bad beans, and the remaining ones are all good beans. How simple. Why bother cultivating the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Four Right Efforts, the Four Bases of Psychic Power, the Five Roots and Five Powers? No need to receive or uphold precepts, no need to cultivate meditative concentration, no need for any concentration at all. A job of picking beans doesn't need to be so troublesome. The conditions spoken of by the Buddha are all superfluous; those of the highest capacity have no need to adhere to the Buddha's words.

The thirteen-year-old novice Shenhui under the Sixth Patriarch was clever, intelligent, and possessed deep virtuous roots. His desire for the Dharma was intense. He climbed mountains, crossed ridges, and traveled a thousand miles to find the Sixth Patriarch seeking the Way. The Sixth Patriarch only confirmed him as a doctrinally learned adherent. At that time, the Chan style was so flourishing, the enlightened patriarchs and virtuous teachers were so numerous, yet Venerable Shenhui lived to ninety-six years old still as a doctrinally learned adherent. He wrote many essays and spent his life debating and contending for the school against the gradual cultivation faction of Venerable Shenxiu of the Northern School. Who among people today possesses Venerable Shenhui's spirit of seeking the Dharma and his virtuous roots and merit? Yet they dream of using the method of elimination to find the eighth consciousness and surpass Venerable Shenhui! The eighth consciousness will not let you find it this way. Using speculative methods, you might speculate it out, but that is like drawing a cake to satisfy hunger – ultimately, it won't fill your stomach. In short, everyone, please recognize one fact: the Dharma-ending Age is, after all, the Dharma-ending Age. Do not harbor delusions about anything. Be truthful and do good; delusion is evil.