How to Eradicate Self-Attachment through the Manas

The reason the mental faculty (manas) clings to the notion of self is due to the view of self. The view of self arises from the single thought of ignorance. Because of this single thought of ignorance, the mental faculty takes all phenomena manifested by the eighth consciousness as "self" and "belonging to self," unaware that they all belong to the eighth consciousness. Thus, the view of self and what is seen by self arise. Because the mental faculty holds such perverted views and incorrect understanding, it clings to the five aggregates and eighteen elements produced and manifested by the eighth consciousness as "self" and "belonging to self," refusing to relinquish them. This causes afflictions to blaze fiercely and perpetuates the cycle of birth and death.

To eradicate the mental faculty's clinging to self, one must first eradicate its view of self. Only when the view of self exists can clinging to self arise. Only after eradicating the view of self can one gradually eradicate clinging to self; mistaken views lead to clinging. If the mental faculty's view becomes correct, knowing that the five aggregates and eighteen elements are suffering, empty, impermanent, and devoid of self—unreliable and ungraspable—it will no longer cling to them. Ultimately, liberation is attained, and the mind becomes purified.

The mental faculty's eradication of the view of self and its realization of the selflessness of the five aggregates occur at different levels. Due to differences in ignorance, meditative concentration, and the wisdom gained through contemplation, the depth of eradicating the view of self varies. There is the eradication of the view of self by a Stream-enterer (Sotāpanna), by a Once-returner (Sakadāgāmin), by a Non-returner (Anāgāmin), and by a newcomer to the path (referring to the initial stages). At each fruition stage, the depth of eradicating the view of self and the wisdom attained also differ. It is like students in a school having varying levels of proficiency, where even students in the same grade and class have differing abilities.

After a Stream-enterer eradicates the view of self, continued contemplation and familiarization with the principle that the five aggregates are suffering, empty, impermanent, and devoid of self lead to progressively deeper wisdom and meditative concentration. The view of self becomes eradicated more thoroughly, consequently diminishing attachment to the five aggregates more and more. When clinging to self is completely eradicated, one becomes a Fourth Fruition Arhat (Arahant). For one who has completely eradicated the view of self and clinging to self, the single thought of ignorance is also completely eradicated. At the end of that life, they can enter Parinirvāṇa (complete nirvana).

Therefore, the view of self is the root of clinging to self. Before eradicating clinging to self, one must eradicate the view of self. When does the mental faculty begin to eradicate the view of self if it eradicates clinging to self completely at the Fourth Fruition? It must be at the Stream-enterer stage that the mental faculty begins to eradicate the view of self. Only after eradicating the view of self can the mental faculty's clinging to the five aggregates gradually loosen and lessen, causing afflictions to become increasingly subtle. At a certain point, the Second Fruition (Once-returner) is attained. Due to diminished clinging and subtle afflictions, the Five Hindrances are effectively subdued, allowing the first dhyāna (meditative absorption) to arise. Then, through the merits and benefits experienced within the first dhyāna, greed and hatred are eradicated, and one becomes a Third Fruition Non-returner (Anāgāmin). Subsequently, when self-conceit and clinging to self are completely eradicated, one becomes a Fourth Fruition Arhat (Arahant) and, upon the exhaustion of karmic connections with the world, enters Parinirvāṇa.

If the mental faculty does not eradicate the view of self, one cannot become a Stream-enterer, nor experience the liberating merits and benefits of the Stream-enterer stage. Consequently, one cannot progress further through contemplation to become a Second Fruition Once-returner with subtle afflictions. Without becoming a Once-returner, one cannot attain the first dhyāna and become a Third Fruition Non-returner. Without becoming a Non-returner, one cannot become a Fourth Fruition Arhat who has eradicated all afflictions.

Such is the sequence of practice in the Śrāvaka (Hīnayāna) vehicle. Even Bodhisattvas of the Mahāyāna cannot bypass this sequence without practicing it. The practice of Mahāyāna Bodhisattvas must also follow this principle, this sequence, and this procedure.