Cutting Off the Delusion of Views and the Delusion of Thought

Eradicating the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa) means severing the afflictive delusions on the level of views, that is, the view-delusions (darśana-heya). View-delusions include the delusions in the mind consciousness's views and understanding, but most importantly they are the delusions in the views held by the manas since beginningless kalpas. View-delusions are the afflictions on the level of views that are severed at the time of seeing the Path—that is, eradicating incorrect views, mainly including the erroneous views and opinions of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. The meditation-delusions (bhāvanā-heya) are the afflictions in thought and conception that are severed during the stage of cultivating the Path, namely afflictive delusions such as greed, hatred, delusion, and arrogance.

View-delusions are severed when attaining the first fruit (srotāpanna), while meditation-delusions are severed at the third fruit (anāgāmin) and the fourth fruit (arhat); in other words, they can only begin to be severed after attaining the first dhyāna. One who has severed greed, craving, and hatred is a person of the third fruit; one who has severed the delusion and self-grasping of one thought of ignorance is a person of the fourth fruit. The manas's view of self is likewise a view-delusion, an afflictive delusion on the level of views, and should be severed at the first time of seeing the Path; the manas's meditation-delusion afflictions should be subdued at the second fruit (sakṛdāgāmin), begin to be severed at the third fruit, and one who has severed them completely is a person of the fourth fruit, equivalent to an eighth-bhūmi bodhisattva.

Severing the view of self at the first fruit must include the manas's view of self. If it did not include the manas's view of self, attaining the first fruit would be a very easy matter. But in fact it is not easy; many people study the Āgama sūtras their whole lives and still cannot attain the first fruit. In fact, many people's mind consciousness also understands that all dharmas are illusory, like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows, yet they still cannot eradicate the view of self and cannot become persons of the first fruit.

The view of self of the mind consciousness is relatively easy to eradicate, because its wisdom is strong; upon hearing the Dharma it can deliberate and engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), so it easily breaks through the view of self and ignorance. The manas is more difficult, because the manas's view of self and ignorance are deeply rooted, and the manas's wisdom is weak; it cannot quickly understand the Dharma principles it encounters, and must rely on the mind consciousness's power of deliberation, requiring the mind consciousness to provide some materials and data for Him to reference, so that the manas can deliberate (manasikāra) and confirm the principle of non-self, thereby eradicating the view of self.