Prerequisites for Eradicating the View of Self

The eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa) works the same way: the mind consciousness must have sufficient wisdom to guide the manas, and the mental nature of the manas must be effectively subdued so that it can comply with the mind consciousness's deliberation and guidance. This requires the manas not to have such an intense view of self and self-grasping. In ordinary times, one should train the mind consciousness and the manas to think less about the physical body and to grasp less at the functions and activities of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha); only when greed and attachment are lightened can one gradually empty out the sensations of the physical body. When the manas grasps at self too strongly, there is no way to guide it or carry out contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā). The mind consciousness should also thoroughly understand what the content of the view of the body is and what the content of the view of self is; only in this way can contemplative practice and introspection have a direction and a goal. If the content and scope of the view of the body and the view of self are not known, then it is impossible to contemplate and eradicate the view of the body and the view of self.