What Is the Purpose of Dharma Practice and Realization?

The heavier afflictions of a Sotāpanna (Stream-enterer) have certainly been subdued; they will no longer commit killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, or false speech. Minor afflictions still remain. Compared to an ordinary person (prithagjana), their mind nature is definitely different, having been effectively subdued, whereas the ordinary person's is not subdued. However, ordinary people before the severance of the view of self, during their cultivation and realization, also gradually subdue their afflictions, which is different from before they began cultivation. For those who have encountered the realization of non-self, their afflictions are not so heavy, since the initial view of self is no longer present. It's just that the degree of non-self realization differs, the extent to which the mind nature is subdued differs, and the beneficial results of liberation differ, but all have some benefit and partial liberation.

The purpose of all Buddhist cultivation and realization is to eradicate ignorance (avidyā). Where there is ignorance, there are various afflictions (kleśa). Therefore, realizing the fruits (phalas) and illuminating the mind ultimately resolve the problem of afflictions. When ignorance is gone, afflictions cease. The degree of ignorance eliminated determines the degree of afflictions subdued, or the degree of afflictions severed. If the severance of the view of self (sakkāya-ditthi) in the Sotāpanna is not linked to subduing the afflictions of ignorance, then what use is the severance of the view of self and the illumination of the mind? Is acquiring theoretical knowledge sufficient?

What is the purpose of learning theoretical knowledge? Is it not to eradicate ignorance and sever afflictions? Why is there no liberation? Why is there the suffering of birth and death? Is it not precisely because there are afflictions and ignorance? Has the fundamental purpose and goal of learning Buddhism been lost? Have they become confused? Why is everyone not yet a Buddha right now? Is it not precisely because there are various kinds of ignorance and afflictions at different levels?

Realizing the fruit and severing afflictions is like cutting through a thick tree root. Completely severing the root corresponds to the fourth fruit (Arahantship). Before the root is completely severed, it is cut away bit by bit, broken off gradually. Realizing the first fruit (Sotāpanna) is equivalent to having started cutting the root and having already cut away a small part, namely the three fetters (samyojanas). The second fruit (Sakadāgāmi) involves cutting away more, meaning greed, hatred, and delusion become very faint. The third fruit (Anāgāmi) severs sensual desire and ill-will, equivalent to cutting away most of the root, so the tree is on the verge of collapsing at any moment. When the root is completely severed, one can enter Nirvana without residue (anupādisesa-nibbāna) at any time.