The Reason for the Failure to Realize Anātman

We know that this physical body is not the self, yet we cannot sever the view of self. Why? This is a matter of wisdom. On one hand, the conscious mind lacks the wisdom of selflessness; it does not understand contemplation and reflection, does not know how to gather evidence and data, and fails to permeate the manas (mental faculty). On the other hand, the power of meditative concentration is insufficient, preventing focused contemplation. Consequently, the manas cannot accept the concepts presented by consciousness, nor can it concentrate on evaluating the evidence and data collected by consciousness. Thus, the view of self cannot be severed.

The ingrained notions held by the manas since beginningless kalpas are the most difficult to overturn. Although consciousness may clearly recognize at times that the physical body arises and ceases, is impermanent, and cannot be the self, the manas remains unable to accept this falsity. This is precisely where the blockage lies. Most of the time, the evidence provided by consciousness is not conclusive. For instance, take the proposition that one plus one equals two. We know this proposition is correct, but why is one plus one equal to two correct? We do not know. If even consciousness does not know, the manas is even less likely to know.

To contemplate the selflessness of the physical body, one can approach it from various perspectives. For example, if a hand is cut off, contemplate: Is that hand me? No, because the hand is gone, yet I still exist. If the hand were me, then I would cease to exist. Therefore, this hand is not me. After the eyes are gouged out, do I not still exist? Then the eyes are not me. If the ears are cut off, I still remain; I have not died, so the ears are not me. If the head is cut off, although I die along with it, if I truly ceased to exist, there would be no future self in subsequent lives. Hence, it is evident that this physical body is not me either. Was yesterday's me me? If it was me, where did yesterday's me go? Condense these questions into a single thought and suspend it in the heart. One day, the manas will finally understand: "Ah, so it is like this—neither the physical body nor the five aggregates are me." Then the view of self is severed.