The Realm of Seeing the Path in Yogācāra

Answer: The seeing of the path in Yogācāra mainly refers to attaining a portion of the seed-wisdom of consciousness-only (唯识种智). It occurs after the third fruit, approaching the fourth fruit. A bodhisattva at the first bhūmi must be a person of the third fruit of the Small Vehicle, whose afflictions have been eliminated; perhaps a little conceit of self (māna) and some grasping at the five aggregates or at the world of the three realms may remain uneliminated.

Ordinary people who study the Yogācāra Dharma can likewise awaken to the Way, and once enlightened, their insight is deep, subtle, and ultimate. Those who awaken through the Chan school have wisdom that is rather coarse and shallow.

Bodhisattvas from the first bhūmi up to the seventh bhūmi may not enter the established position of the fourth fruit, arhat, of the Small Vehicle; they may not seek to realize the fourth fruit, otherwise they will inevitably enter nirvāṇa. For a bodhisattva, retaining a little bit of craving and love is beneficial for continuing cultivation and spreading the Dharma in the Sahā world; apart from that, there is no necessity whatsoever.