How to Use the Method of Self-Suggestion to Practice Contemplative Practice (Vipaśyanā-caryā) of the Buddha-Dharma

When using the method of self-suggestion in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of the Buddha's Dharma, the mind consciousness must frequently suggest to the manas that the five aggregates (pañcaskandha) are false and illusory, that all dharmas are false and illusory, and that they are all the functions and operations of the tathāgatagarbha. At a certain point, the manas will give its assent, and then the self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) can be eliminated, thereby allowing one to unleash one's own potential and transform oneself. This kind of suggestion is similar to self-hypnosis: adjusting oneself into a relatively quiet and tranquil state, a state in which one can hear the voice within; only then can one begin self-suggestion.

Slowly and with measured cadence, recite the content concerning the elimination of self-view described above, guiding the manas to accept it, and allow the manas a certain buffer of time to receive the information, organize its thoughts, and deliberate (manana) upon the Dharma principles contained in the information. This requires a certain amount of time and a specific environmental setting—that is, keeping the manas from attending to other matters so that it focuses only on the content being guided. The mind must be tranquil, stable, and peaceful, so that it can fully receive the guidance of the mind consciousness. If wherever the mind consciousness guides, the manas is able to deliberate, then at that point the manas is relatively compliant and has already been initially permeated; it is only that final success has not yet been achieved. The key lies in whether the mind consciousness can observe the manas's responses, whether it has experience in guiding, and whether it truly understands the principle of non-self. Such guided hypnosis can be repeated many times at appropriate times and in appropriate settings. As long as the mind consciousness is well-versed in the theory, knows how to observe the manas, knows how to guide the manas, and can maintain a composed and tranquil state, then after a certain period of time, the self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) will surely be eliminated.