The Importance of Distinguishing Between Intellectual Understanding and Realized Awakening

For those who genuinely practice, there is no need to specifically explain the manas; they will realize it through personal verification. For those who do not genuinely practice, one must tell them the difference between intellectual understanding and realization through practice, so that everyone will not be satisfied with mere understanding and will strive for actual realization. This is a special treatment for the restless sentient beings of the Dharma-ending age. Sentient beings' minds are extremely restless and distracted; they are unwilling to put in hard effort, unwilling to keep the precepts, unwilling to cultivate meditative concentration. Even if they wish to keep the precepts or cultivate concentration, due to environmental factors, they are unable to do so. Therefore, they cannot engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) and cannot attain realization. They can only read books day after day, letting the mind consciousness comprehend a little, and after understanding to a certain extent, they go around claiming to others that they have been enlightened. Therefore, it is necessary to expound some special teachings during this special period. To teach special sentient beings in special ways—this is precisely to match the spiritual faculties of sentient beings and to resolve their practical and fundamental problems.