The Importance of Experiential Realization of Non-self

All sentient beings regard sensations as real, as the self, and as belonging to the self. They pursue sensations, satisfy and yield to them, and even commit various karmic actions, especially evil karmic actions, for the sake of their own sensations.

To liberate ourselves from the suffering of birth and death, we must contemplate the illusory, unreal, phantom-like, empty, and non-self nature of sensations. By doing so, we can realize that sensations are indeed empty, illusory, and unreal. We will then cease to value or pursue sensations. On one hand, this eradicates the view of self; on the other, the mind gradually becomes purified, and greed, hatred, and delusion gradually diminish. By not pursuing sensations, we will not create the ignorant evil karma of greed, hatred, and delusion.

How are sensations empty and illusory? Where do sensations come from? Sensations primarily arise from the six consciousnesses. In reality, the sensations of the manas (the seventh consciousness) are also crucial. If the manas had no sensations, it would not impel the six consciousnesses to create karmic actions tainted by greed, nor would it seek liberation or diligently cultivate the Dharma. The sensations of the six consciousnesses, on one hand, originate from the manas, influenced and directed by it. On the other hand, when the six consciousnesses themselves perceive the six sense objects, they are affected by the objects, develop greed or aversion toward them, and generate feelings of pleasure or pain when the mental factor of sensation arises.

How do the sensations of the six consciousnesses arise? The Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature) outputs the seeds of consciousness, forming the six consciousnesses. Once the six consciousnesses are formed, they begin to function. The five omnipresent mental factors and the five object-specific mental factors then arise, enabling the discrimination and grasping of the six sense objects. This process gives rise to sensations toward the objects. Subsequently, these sensations are mistaken as real, as the self, leading to greed toward agreeable sensations and aversion toward disagreeable ones. This results in the creation of ignorant karmic actions driven by greed, hatred, and delusion, perpetuating the cycle of birth, death, and karmic retribution. Therefore, contemplating the emptiness of sensations is crucial for subduing the minds of greed and hatred. Realizing the non-self nature of the five aggregates and that sensations are not the self is of utmost importance.