The Enjoyment of the Merits of Liberation after the Eradication of the View of Self

At the same time one eradicates the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa), one also eradicates the view of what belongs to self. The key is whether the manas acknowledges that the five aggregates are not self; the mind consciousness's mere belief is useless and does not constitute true eradication of the view of self. It is only when, deep within, one completely and utterly no longer regards the five aggregates as self or as belonging to self, and no longer regards the six sense objects as one's possessions, that it counts. In the course of contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) and deliberation, the mind consciousness must engage in deep and subtle deliberation (manasikāra), thereby guiding the manas and enabling the manas to understand the principle. Once the manas understands the principle, it will change its own views and concepts, and thus the entire body and mind undergo a great transformation. From then on, the manas gradually ceases to grasp the functions and activities of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness of the six consciousnesses as self and as belonging to self, and ceases to grasp the aggregate of form as self and as belonging to self. After realizing the Mahāyāna Dharma, one will gradually return these functions and activities of the five aggregates and the eighteen realms to the eighth consciousness, the true master. Only then can one pass through the various checkpoints of the Mahāyāna one by one, with wisdom growing ever deeper and sharper, and body and mind becoming increasingly liberated.