Insights from The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment on overcoming self-attachment

In the referenced commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (Yuanjue Jing), the Buddha explains the characteristics of phenomena and the barriers that hinder sentient beings from attaining the benefits of sagehood.

At the heart of this discussion are the four marks, which symbolize clinging to the concept of self and are recognized as the primary obstacle preventing the achievement of nirvana.

Despite practicing the correct dharma, practitioners in the degenerate age, referred to as the latter days of authentic dharma, struggle to reach fruition due to their persistent self-perception within these four traces.

The Sutra highlights that the inability to consummate sagehood stems from the practitioner’s attachment to the self as reflected in their reactions to praise and criticism.

When praised for their mistaken dharma, practitioners feel joy and eagerness to save; when criticized, they respond with anger and resentment.

This response indicates a deep-seated attachment to the self, firmly embedded in ālayavijñāna (storehouse consciousness), manifesting as attachment to dharma.

This attachment breeds various mental and emotional afflictions.

To overcome these, the Sutra advises practitioners to exert themselves towards awakening by subduing their afflictions and cultivating great courage.

The goal is to attain what has not been attained and sever what has not been severed, preventing negative emotions such as greed, anger, love, pride, flattery, perversion, jealousy, and envy from arising, thereby extinguishing all attachment to self and others.

The Sutra also emphasizes the importance of discerning a genuine teacher and adhering to the four reliances:

• relying on the dharma (not the person)
• the meaning (not the words)
• wisdom (not consciousness)
• the definitive meaning (not the non-definitive meaning)

This approach enables practitioners to eliminate ego and dharma attachment, facilitating alignment with authentic dharma and progression towards enlightenment.

The verse warns that attachment to self is a common pitfall, not just for ordinary people but also for practitioners of Śrāvaka, Pratyekabuddha, and Mahāyāna bodhisattvas.

Despite practicing authentic teachings, once trapped by the self, the dharma becomes distorted, epitomizing the degenerate age.

This cautionary note serves as a reminder that true seeking of dharma requires relinquishing desires and hatred, ensuring the practice remains beneficial and conducive to enlightenment.

References

• The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (Yuanjue jing)
• Perfect Enlightenment 30: Buddha Reveals the Nature of Phenomena, Part 2