What Is Non-Valid Cognition?

Non-valid cognition (non-pramāṇa) is erroneous perception and a form of erroneous view. Prior to realizing the mind's true nature and perceiving one's inherent Buddha-nature, the seventh consciousness's (manas) perception of the self is entirely non-valid cognition and constitutes erroneous views. Even after severing the view of self and attaining the fruition of Arhatship, the perception of the self as the five aggregates is not entirely direct perception (pratyakṣa), because Arhats still do not fully comprehend the true essence of the body and mind composed of the five aggregates. Therefore, only the Buddha possesses complete direct perception regarding the five aggregates, free from the slightest erroneous view. The Buddha's wisdom is entirely the wisdom of direct perception.

The non-valid cognition of the self as the five aggregates stems entirely from the fundamental ignorance (avidyā) of the mental faculty (manas). Consequently, the entire purpose and ultimate goal of studying the Buddha Dharma and engaging in practice is to thoroughly eradicate the non-valid cognition of the mental faculty, to completely eliminate all inverted erroneous views held by the mental faculty. Once the ignorance of the mental faculty is utterly extinguished, one immediately becomes a Mahayana non-learner (asekha), requiring no further study or practice.