The Wisdom of the Mahāyāna Path of Seeing

When the mind consciousness and the manas, through investigating Chan, realize the eighth consciousness, one can observe the simple functioning of the eighth consciousness, which has no discriminating nature toward the six sense objects. In this way, one attains the wisdom of seeing the Path of the Great Vehicle. On the one hand, one observes how the eighth consciousness gives rise to the five aggregates, and realizes that the five aggregates are empty and without self; on the other hand, one realizes that the eighth consciousness is a mind-essence that neither arises nor ceases, yet can give birth to the arising-and-ceasing five-aggregate body—that is the true self, and this self is characterized by selflessness. In the process of investigating Chan with strong meditative concentration and deep questioning doubt, one gradually eliminates the five aggregates and eighteen realms, denies the reality of the five aggregates and eighteen realms, and thereby confirms the characteristic of selflessness, eradicating the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi) and attaining the purity of the Dharma eye of the Small Vehicle. At that point, seeing the Path of the Great Vehicle is not far off. As for eradicating the obstruction of afflictions and the obstruction of the knowable (jñeya-āvaraṇa), those are goals of subsequent cultivation, matters that come after the first dhyāna is attained, and also matters that come after the stage of the tenth dedication.