Rushing Headlong to Discrimination

We perceive through our five senses (Five Consciousnesses): eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body. So we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.

We process what we have sensed through our mind (Sixth Consciousness). So we perceive. Tree. Man. Cat. Book.

Our problems arise with the next step. We judge and discriminate (the seventh or Mana Consciousness). This is good; that is bad. This is right; that is wrong. This is beautiful; that is ugly. And so it becomes easy to think "This is a good-looking person. That is an unattractive person. I like the first but not the second."

Finally, everything from the first seven consciousnesses is stored in the eighth consciousness, our Alaya Consciousness.

The minds of ordinary people rush headlong from the sixth consciousness of perception to the seventh, which is discrimination. Ordinary beings judge and sentence, and are not even aware that this is constantly occurring.

The minds of awakened beings settle into tranquility as they clearly see the tree, the man, the cat, the book. But there is no judging. No discrimination. They have no wandering thoughts or attachments as their eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body, and mind encounter the external environment. There is no good or bad, only beings in need of help so that they too can awaken and dwell in tranquility and peace.

Comments

[anybody]

Oh my, you really touched heaven today! WOW! That was so consise, to the point, on the mark, you blew it away. No extra bla bla bla words.

That is all of it in a nut shell, (so to speak).

Hmm could I be discriminating? Opps.

Thank you for the work you do; with a sincere heart,thanks!

Amitoufou,
anybody

[Sue K]

This is an excellent reminder we are all one. To dislike or judge another is, at a higher level, not loving ourselves as well.

A psychological point is often, what bothers you most about another is often something that bothers you about yourself at some level.

If I can recognize something in someone else, I stop and ask if I can see that in myself. I am then grateful they showed me a lesson I needed.

We were discussing the "Dissolving Meditation" in class on Monday. We think we are all so "unique", like snowflakes. The reality is that as the snowflake melts into water that flows into the rivers and then oceans, it is really not "unique", but a part of the great flow of the Universe. When we are part of that great flow, we tap into the beautiful peace.

I am disheartened about our recklessness towards our earth and the distruction of our beautiful iceburgs which ulimately distroys many creatures and ultimately ourselves. Distruction ultimately will come back to us. Will the future generations know of snow and it's beauty? Perhaps when we realize humans are not separate from the showflakes...

[Kristine]

This was wonderful-I am currently reading The Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche...heady stuff (no pun actually intended!!) This lesson was a wonderful summary of the first few chapters about the mind. The section when he describes the mind as a symphony really spoke to my wild and woolly monkey mind!! But I am working at it and remembering that being aware and mindful of all the dancing monkeys is the first step on the path. Amidst the chaos of starting school next week I will be mindful of your words as I meet my new students.

Amitoufou
Have a wonderful Spring week!!!!!!