The More Ultimate the Method, the Harder It Is to Practice

In the contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha) for eliminating self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi), the manas is one of the six faculties (ṣaḍāyatana), and one must also contemplate its selflessness in order to eliminate self-view and realize the fruits of the path. The Buddha taught us the method for contemplating the manas in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra; it is most ultimate and thorough, only very difficult. The more ultimate the method, the harder it is to practice; the simpler the method, the more convenient it is, and the less ultimate. Therefore, those who have the capacity should not covet what is cheap, quick, and effortless, and should not fear paying worldly costs—the reward is what matters most and is most valuable. However good worldly dharmas may be, they are still suffering; to cast away suffering in exchange for a treasure that never perishes—why not do it? Now a very serious problem has arisen: the manas is one of the five aggregates and eighteen realms (aṣṭādaśa-dhātu), and in contemplative practice one must also contemplate the manas completely and thoroughly, revealing its illusory and selfless nature. Most people cannot contemplate the manas—or rather, the vast majority, or almost everyone, cannot contemplate it. How, then, can they eliminate self-view? All those many people who claim to have eliminated self-view and realized the fruits—how did they eliminate the self-view regarding the manas?