The Liberating Merit and Beneficial Effects After the Elimination of Self-View (ahaṃkāra-mamakāra-parityāga)

When the elimination of self-view (ahaṃkāra-mamakāra-parityāga) is accomplished, the view of "mine" is eliminated at the same time. The key is whether the manas acknowledges that the five aggregates (pañcaskandha) are not self; the mind consciousness's mere thinking is useless and does not constitute a true elimination of self-view. Only when, deep within, one completely and utterly no longer regards the five aggregates as self or as belonging to self, and no longer regards the six sense objects as one's possessions, does it truly count. In the course of contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), the mind consciousness must engage in deep and subtle deliberation (manana), so as to guide the manas and lead it to understand the principle. Once the manas understands the principle, it will change its own views and concepts, whereby the whole body and mind undergo a great transformation. From then on, the manas gradually ceases to grasp the functions and activities of feeling, perception, formations, and consciousness of the six consciousnesses as self and as belonging to self, and ceases to grasp the aggregate of form (rūpa) as self and as belonging to self. After attaining the Mahāyāna Dharma, one will gradually return these functions and activities of the five aggregates and the eighteen dhātus to the eighth consciousness, the true master. Only then can the various checkpoints of the Mahāyāna be passed one by one, with wisdom growing ever deeper and sharper, and body and mind becoming increasingly liberated.