Without Eliminating Afflictions, One Cannot Attain Enlightenment

When the Buddha first attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, he said: "How wondrous! All sentient beings of the earth inherently possess the wisdom and virtuous marks of the Tathagata. It is only due to afflictions and deluded thoughts that they cannot realize it." In the Mahāvaipulya Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra, the Buddha said: "The Buddha sees that sentient beings possess the Tathāgatagarbha. Desiring them to unfold it, he expounds the Dharma to eliminate afflictions and reveal the Buddha-nature." "But because those sentient beings are covered by afflictions, the Tathagata appears in the world and extensively expounds the Dharma to eliminate defilements and purify omniscient wisdom." "I observe with the Buddha-eye, seeing truly. With skillful means, I expound the Dharma according to their needs, eliminate afflictions, open the Buddha's knowledge and vision, and universally perform Buddha's work for the world."

"I observe with the Buddha-eye all sentient beings, whose afflictions like husks cover the Tathagata's immeasurable knowledge and vision. Therefore, with skillful means, I expound the Dharma according to their needs, enabling them to eliminate afflictions, purify omniscient wisdom, and become the perfectly enlightened one in all worlds." "I see sentient beings bound by various afflictions, ceaselessly transmigrating through the long night of birth and death without measure. The wondrous treasury of the Tathagata is within their bodies, perfectly pure and no different from me. Therefore, the Buddha expounds the Dharma for sentient beings to eradicate afflictions, purify the Tathagata's wisdom, and further transform and guide all the world." "The Tathagata observes that all sentient beings have the Buddha-treasury within their bodies, fully endowed with all marks. Having observed thus, he extensively reveals and expounds it. Those sentient beings attain peace and coolness. With vajra-like wisdom, they smash the afflictions and unveil the pure Buddha-body, like bringing forth a golden statue." 

The above words of the Buddha reveal that sentient beings, due to the obscuration of afflictions, cannot perceive their own pure Tathāgatagarbha treasure. They need to eradicate afflictions and remove obscurations so that the Tathāgatagarbha can manifest. Only when the sentient beings' wisdom-eye is purified can they realize the inherently pure Tathāgatagarbha. From this, it is evident that if we study Buddhism and practice without subduing and eradicating the heavy obstacles of afflictions, and the mind does not attain purity, we cannot realize the Tathāgatagarbha, nor can we eradicate the view of self. Without afflictions, with a mind clear as water, sentient beings would only perceive the Tathāgatagarbha nature of the world and the One True Dharma Realm. They would not perceive worldly appearances, nor mistake worldly appearances as true, as a self, or as belonging to a self. There would be no clinging to self or dharmas. Sentient beings would be naturally liberated, naturally Buddhas, without needing to study Buddhism or practice.

The depth of eradicating the view of self is intrinsically related to the degree of eliminating afflictions. Similarly, the level of wisdom from realizing the mind is intrinsically related to the level of eliminating afflictions. The more and deeper the afflictions are eliminated, the deeper the wisdom of eradicating the view of self and realizing the mind becomes, and the higher the attained stage. If sentient beings studying Buddhism only focus on theoretical knowledge and ignore their own afflictions, recognizing the arising of afflictions without seeking to eliminate them, they cannot attain the path of seeing in either the Mahayana or Hinayana. They can only remain ordinary beings bound by all afflictions, ceaselessly transmigrating through birth and death. Therefore, those who claim to have attained fruition or realized the mind, yet whose afflictions remain deep and heavy, have undoubtedly not attained fruition nor realized the mind. They merely possess a false name and are not worthy of being studied or emulated by the masses.