The Hazards of Conceptual Realization of Dharma

If merely the consciousness attaining the fruit counts as genuine attainment, then in our group, if not half, at least one-third have attained it through consciousness. If I were to guide them in person, three-quarters or even four-fifths would attain it through consciousness. Adding the members of the Consciousness-Only group, it wouldn’t be surprising if at least one or two thousand attained it through consciousness, or even five or six thousand.

If merely the consciousness realizing the mind counts as mind-realization, then by holding a large assembly where I explain how the Tathāgatagarbha specifically functions, everyone’s consciousness would come to know it. Those who do not deny it would all become mind-realized, enlightened bodhisattvas. Then, even if this world didn’t match the grandeur of the Buddha’s era, it would come close.

Now, many in the group can discern the Dharma principles of the root consciousness, and their wisdom regarding Consciousness-Only is not shallow. If attaining the fruit through consciousness were sufficient, our group could now have several bhūmi bodhisattvas endowed with the all-knowing wisdom of Consciousness-Only. Twenty years from now, we could nurture eight hundred to a thousand such bhūmi bodhisattvas—this would be no difficult feat. But is the cultivation and realization of the Buddha-Dharma truly like this? Is it truly so easy? Can one attain it merely through word of mouth?

Why is the Buddhist community undergoing rectification now? Those with wisdom ought to understand. Superficially, it appears to be a secular act, but in truth, the Buddha long ago knew the state of the current Buddhist community. Could the Buddha not devise a solution? The Buddha’s support from behind the scenes goes unnoticed by sentient beings, who only perceive surface phenomena and fail to recognize the true underlying causes. Every upheaval in the Buddhist community actually stems from major internal issues, which then attract external turmoil. All buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma-protecting dragon deities are aware of this.