The Difference Between Ultimate Truth and Conventional Truth

A Bodhisattva on the First Ground must realize the gate of clarity for one hundred dharmas; a Bodhisattva on the Second Ground must realize the gate of clarity for one thousand dharmas; a Bodhisattva on the Third Ground must realize the gate of clarity for ten thousand dharmas. Each time a Bodhisattva realizes one dharma, they eradicate one instance of ignorance, overturn one perverse view, attain one level of insight, and increase one measure of wisdom. Their mental afflictions, vexations, or habitual tendencies diminish by one measure, and their conduct becomes purified by one measure. This continues until they realize all dharmas, eradicate all ignorance and mistaken views, attain the wisdom and insight of a Buddha, exhaust all mental afflictions without remainder, and complete the cultivation of the Buddha Path.

The same principle applies to the Hinayana path. Regarding the truth that the five aggregates are without self, the degree to which one realizes it determines the degree of ignorance eradicated, the level of insight attained, the measure of wisdom increased, and the extent to which mental afflictions are eliminated or severed.

To summarize, the degree of one's insight determines the degree of one's practice. Genuine realization means speaking and accomplishing accordingly, while false realization means speaking but failing to accomplish—mere lip service.