The Immediate Perception in the Saha World Is Unreliable

In the Saha World, people regard the common sense of daily life as direct perception. However, all such perceptions may be transformed and rendered inapplicable upon attaining the Eighth Ground Bodhisattva stage. It is then that one realizes nothing is as it seemed—there exist no immutable things or laws. Mountains may cease to be mountains, waters may cease to be waters. The illusory nature of all material phenomena determines their inherent instability and unreliability.

We believe fire possesses the property of combustion, capable of consuming all material phenomena. Yet upon reaching the Eighth Ground Bodhisattva stage, one knows this is not necessarily so—the nature of fire may change; it might fail to burn even a single sheet of paper, let alone the form body of a Bodhisattva.

We believe water possesses the property of submersion, yet upon reaching the Eighth Ground Bodhisattva stage, one knows this is not necessarily so—it might fail to moisten even a single sheet of paper, let alone the form body of a Bodhisattva.

We believe stones cannot be eaten, but this is not necessarily true—a highly accomplished practitioner can boil stones and consume them like yams or potatoes.

Thus, the so-called direct perceptions of ordinary sentient beings are all erroneous, all fallacious perceptions. Sentient beings should refrain from excessive self-assurance—this is the correct attitude. Clay figures are molded from clay, yet without meditative concentration, one can only be shaped by others—what can you possibly shape? Merely shaping the suffering of samsara. Modern people delight in learning phrases, relish recitation, seek encyclopedic knowledge, yet shun experiential realization through meditative concentration.