Liberation Is Attained Only by Eradicating the Ignorance and Fetters of the Mental Faculty

The cycle of birth and death and the revolving in the three evil realms are caused by the ignorance of the manas. As long as the ignorance of the manas remains unbroken, the twelve links of dependent origination that bind beings to the cycle of birth and death persist. Sentient beings are thus bound by the ignorance of the manas within the six realms, unable to escape; bound within the three evil realms, they also cannot break free. Since time immemorial, due to ignorance, the manas has failed to recognize the true Self and the fundamental Self, has been unaware of the true reality of the Dharma Realm, and has neglected to abide in the fundamental true mind. Stirring thoughts to crave outwardly, it consequently causes the five aggregates to vainly undergo the suffering of the cycle of birth and death. Because of the manas's ignorance, the mind internally stirs restlessly, and thus the Tathāgatagarbha, complying with the manas, gives rise to the universe and the world of vessels, gives birth to the five aggregates of sentient beings, and the mundane phenomena of the three realms come into existence. Sentient beings have cycled through birth and death within the three realms for immeasurable kalpas, a process that continues to this day, precisely because of the ignorance of the manas and because of the fetters of the manas. Spiritual practice aims to sever the various fetters and kinds of ignorance within the manas, so that one is no longer bound by ignorance, breaks free from the various bonds of birth and death, and attains liberation.

Therefore, to eradicate the view of self, one must first eliminate the view of self within the manas. Only after that can one attenuate the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion inherent to the manas. Subsequently, one can then eliminate the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion within the manas, and finally, eradicate the ego-clinging of the manas. If a Stream-enterer (Sotāpanna) has not eradicated the view of self within the manas, then there can be no attenuation of greed, hatred, and delusion characteristic of the Once-returner (Sakadāgāmi), no elimination of sensual desire and ill-will characteristic of the Non-returner (Anāgāmi), let alone the complete exhaustion of the afflictions of greed, hatred, delusion, and conceit characteristic of the Arhat (Arahant), nor can there be any talk of the complete eradication of ego-clinging. Thus, it is evident that the view of self within the manas is eradicated at the stage of Stream-entry, while ego-clinging is eliminated only at the stage of Arhatship. This sequence of practice should be clearly understood by all of us.