Eradicating Avidya in Manas Is Highly Challenging

The doctrine of the five aggregates being without self can be roughly understood through mental deliberation, yet the manas (root consciousness) cannot comprehend it. If the manas remains unenlightened, it proves futile, and nothing can be altered. How, then, can we permeate the manas, enabling it to grasp this truth and eradicate the view of self? This requires cultivating deep meditative concentration. Within this concentration, the mental deliberation must become lucid, suspending the Dharma principles before the manas. In this state of concentration, free from arising thoughts, allow the manas to contemplate. The more active the manas's contemplation, the better; the greater the impact it receives, the better. In due time, this can overturn the manas's inherent views, confirming that the five aggregates are without self, thereby eradicating the view of self.

If, even within concentration, one still relies on mental deliberation, it indicates two things: first, the concentration is superficial; second, the Dharma principles have not been transmitted to the manas. If the manas has not been permeated, it cannot contemplate the Dharma principles, thus forcing reliance on mental deliberation. If mental thoughts cease entirely and the manas also ceases its contemplation, one may enter a state of withered concentration, devoid of contemplative wisdom, failing to give rise to the great wisdom of prajñā.

Those without meditative concentration often perceive the realization of fruition as swift and easy, relying solely on mental understanding, which is naturally many times faster than the manas's contemplation. Those with meditative concentration, however, do not find the realization of fruition to be quick or easy, because the manas's ignorance is deep-rooted, its acceptance of truth is slow, and its contemplation of Dharma principles is also slow. Therefore, eradicating the manas's ignorance is exceedingly difficult.

Taking Buddha-recitation as an example: without meditative concentration, the mind can recite the Buddha's name loudly and vigorously. Once a degree of Buddha-recitation concentration arises, the recitation becomes quieter. The deeper the concentration, the softer the recitation. In deep concentration, vocal recitation becomes impossible, and one recites silently within the mind, using mental recitation rather than vocal recitation. When concentration deepens further, even mental recitation by the mind ceases, and one enters concentration. If the manas has been permeated, it uses the manas to recite the Buddha's name. When the manas recites, there is no vocal recitation or mental recitation by the mind, yet deep within, there is indeed an unwavering focus on and remembrance of the Buddha, without emptiness. This is how Buddha-recitation permeates the manas. Therefore, without meditative concentration, the practice of the Buddha Dharma cannot be carried out effectively; it is like scratching an itch through a boot, incapable of resolving any fundamental issues. This is why the Buddha taught that cultivation must be complete with precepts, concentration, and wisdom—these three great treasures are indispensable. Only by trusting the Buddha's words and honoring the Buddha's teachings can one achieve genuine accomplishment.