The Difference Between Ultimate Truth and Conventional Truth

A Bodhisattva at the first bhūmi must realize the gate of clarity of a hundred dharmas; a Bodhisattva at the second bhūmi must realize the gate of clarity of a thousand dharmas; a Bodhisattva at the third bhūmi must realize the gate of clarity of ten thousand dharmas. Each dharma a Bodhisattva realizes destroys one instance of ignorance, overturns one erroneous view, grants one insight, and increases wisdom by one degree, while afflictions or habitual tendencies diminish by one degree, and their conduct becomes purer by one degree. This continues until all dharmas are realized, all ignorance and erroneous views are eradicated, the wisdom and insight of a Buddha are attained, afflictions are utterly exhausted, and the path to Buddhahood is completed.

The same principle applies to the Hinayana path. Regarding the truth of non-self in the five aggregates, the extent to which it is realized determines the degree of ignorance destroyed, the depth of insight gained, the level of wisdom increased, and the measure of afflictions eliminated or severed.

In summary, the extent of one's insight determines the extent of one's practice. Substantial realization means putting into practice what one understands; empty realization means failing to practice what one professes—it is merely lip service.