Eliminating View-Delusion and Eliminating Thought-Delusion

Eliminating self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) means eliminating the afflictive delusions on the level of views, that is, view-delusion. View-delusion includes not only the delusions of the mind consciousness on the level of views; most importantly, it is the delusions of the manas on the level of views accumulated since beginningless kalpas. View-delusion refers to the afflictions on the level of views that are eliminated at the moment of seeing the path—that is, eliminating incorrect views, primarily including the erroneous views and opinions of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. Thought-delusion refers to the afflictions on the level of thought and concepts that are eliminated during the stage of cultivation, namely afflictive delusions such as greed, hatred, delusion, and conceit.

View-delusion is eliminated upon realizing the first fruit, while thought-delusion is eliminated at the third and fourth fruits—that is, it can only begin to be eliminated after attaining the first dhyāna. One who has eliminated greed and hatred is a third-fruit person; one who has eliminated fundamental ignorance and self-grasping is a fourth-fruit person. Therefore, the self-view of the manas is also view-delusion, an afflictive delusion on the level of views, and should be eliminated at the initial seeing of the path. The thought-delusion afflictions of the manas should be subdued at the second fruit, begin to be eliminated at the third fruit, and one who has eliminated them completely is a fourth-fruit person, equivalent to an eighth-bhūmi bodhisattva.

Eliminating self-view at the first fruit must include the self-view of the manas. If it did not include the self-view of the manas, then realizing the first fruit would be an extremely easy matter. But in fact it is not easy; many people study the Āgama sūtras their whole lives and still cannot realize the first fruit. In fact, the mind consciousness of many people clearly understands that all dharmas are illusory, like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows, yet they still cannot eliminate self-view and cannot become first-fruit persons.

The self-view of the mind consciousness is relatively easy to eliminate, because its wisdom is strong; upon hearing the Dharma it can deliberate and engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), so self-view and ignorance are easily broken through. The manas, however, is more difficult, because the self-view and ignorance of the manas are deeply rooted, and the wisdom of the manas is weak; it cannot quickly comprehend the Dharma principles it encounters. It must rely on the deliberative power of the mind consciousness, which needs to provide it with materials and data for reference, before the manas can deliberate and confirm the principle of non-self, thereby eliminating self-view.