"To be beautiful
means to be yourself.
You don't need to be
accepted by others.
You need to accept yourself" — Thich Nhat Hanh
In striving for an authentic life, I realize that accepting myself as I am is the secret to humility. By being humble enough to be myself, I am empowered by unconditional love to accept myself.
By loving myself as I am, I realize that the key to self perfection is the ability to accept myself. No matter how imperfect I am, becoming perfect is a guide to a better life.
However, I do not seek to be perfect. Perhaps I am perfect by accepting myself, warts and all.
It is said that the pure mind is recovered after calming the mind until its pureness is revealed. After calming the mind through breath meditation (samatha), I am able to stay still, for there is no need to keep moving to prove that I am alive.
For I am beautiful enough to humbly accept myself as I walk on this journey called the authentic life.
Reference:
The pure mind mentioned in this article is the amala consciousness, the ninth consciousness of Yogacara Buddhism.
For details on the nine consciousnesses, see: http://operationmeditation.com/discover/levels-of-consciousness-a-buddhist-perspective/
Showing posts with label consciousness-only. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consciousness-only. Show all posts
20131016
The Humanity of No-Self
According to Buddhist doctrine, the self is as artificial as a car, a house, or even money. It only exists as a concept because a Greek philosopher wrote "pneumos" when speaking about the soul and "autos" for the self.
Such abstract notions have no existence in reality nut only in the mind. As such, they have been reified, taking shape as valid concepts in religions other than Buddhism.
Even where one thinks the soul or the self is discussed in Buddhism, it is only because of confirmation biases that the higher two of the eight consciousnesses theorized by the Yogachara school of Buddhism appear to be similar, but are not.
By denying the existence of the self, Buddhism only remains true to the doctrine of no-self, in which no permanent self exists apart from the body.
Instead, it substitutes the six consciousnesses of modern Buddhism, and rarely discusses the two higher consciousnesses, lest those people who believe in a permanent soul mistake them for the self and the soul.
For those who hold firm to the concept of a permanent soul, and declare that a self exists independent of a body, also claim our humanity with its good works is due to a soul, and falsely assert that the lack of a soul is the reason for evil.
In truth, this fallacy is disproved by the fact that it is humanity's creations which may be deemed good or evil, including the pernicious fallacy called "immortal life".
Indeed, belief in immortal life is a satanism since millions of innocent lives have been sacrificed to it in the name of a Higher Power, be it Allah, G*d or Adonai. In comparison, post-modern human sacrifice to the devil has been proven again and again to be a myth.
Even without a soul, a person may be compassionate and loving, just as one may be uncaring and full of hate, depending on what has been made.
Without a soul, even an animal is capable of creating good. Is not a kitten proof of this? As well, an animal is capable of creating evil. Every time a bear comes to town, its predation is proof of this.
Likewise, what a man creates determines the good of his deed; what he creates also determines the evil of his deed.
What does this have to do with the self? We create, not because of the existence of a self nor do we act out of the goodness of our hearts because of a soul. We act because we are human, and quibbling over its origin in some permanent self or the benefit of a soul is animism.
For the existence of a soul does not make one man good and its absence, another man evil. This kind of fallacy leads to thinking the world is evil because it lacks capacity for a soul.
Yet nature itself is filled with life, and does not need one soul or many souls to exist. Since nature creates itself, and judges not itself, what good will soul be to it?
Since humanity is a vital part of nature, it follows too that humanity can do without soul, since the acts of its members may be judged good or evil without referring to soul.
As for the self, it is but a vain concept that only egocentrics would love to exist, despite not truly being the centre of the world at all.
Such abstract notions have no existence in reality nut only in the mind. As such, they have been reified, taking shape as valid concepts in religions other than Buddhism.
Even where one thinks the soul or the self is discussed in Buddhism, it is only because of confirmation biases that the higher two of the eight consciousnesses theorized by the Yogachara school of Buddhism appear to be similar, but are not.
By denying the existence of the self, Buddhism only remains true to the doctrine of no-self, in which no permanent self exists apart from the body.
Instead, it substitutes the six consciousnesses of modern Buddhism, and rarely discusses the two higher consciousnesses, lest those people who believe in a permanent soul mistake them for the self and the soul.
For those who hold firm to the concept of a permanent soul, and declare that a self exists independent of a body, also claim our humanity with its good works is due to a soul, and falsely assert that the lack of a soul is the reason for evil.
In truth, this fallacy is disproved by the fact that it is humanity's creations which may be deemed good or evil, including the pernicious fallacy called "immortal life".
Indeed, belief in immortal life is a satanism since millions of innocent lives have been sacrificed to it in the name of a Higher Power, be it Allah, G*d or Adonai. In comparison, post-modern human sacrifice to the devil has been proven again and again to be a myth.
Even without a soul, a person may be compassionate and loving, just as one may be uncaring and full of hate, depending on what has been made.
Without a soul, even an animal is capable of creating good. Is not a kitten proof of this? As well, an animal is capable of creating evil. Every time a bear comes to town, its predation is proof of this.
Likewise, what a man creates determines the good of his deed; what he creates also determines the evil of his deed.
What does this have to do with the self? We create, not because of the existence of a self nor do we act out of the goodness of our hearts because of a soul. We act because we are human, and quibbling over its origin in some permanent self or the benefit of a soul is animism.
For the existence of a soul does not make one man good and its absence, another man evil. This kind of fallacy leads to thinking the world is evil because it lacks capacity for a soul.
Yet nature itself is filled with life, and does not need one soul or many souls to exist. Since nature creates itself, and judges not itself, what good will soul be to it?
Since humanity is a vital part of nature, it follows too that humanity can do without soul, since the acts of its members may be judged good or evil without referring to soul.
As for the self, it is but a vain concept that only egocentrics would love to exist, despite not truly being the centre of the world at all.
20130130
Only Consciousness is Reborn
Mind undergoes rebirth, not a permanent soul.
Yet you may ask, "is the mind then permanent?"
No, when one considers it spiritual energy, the ordinary mind is impermanent.
For the consciousness which merges with the physical form "creates" mind.
When one dies, that consciousness (mindstream) returns to the Absolute as Alaya.
Then it is sent out again according to karmic merit, to influence the destiny it chooses, be it rebirth as the creation of new life in a new existence (samsara), or rebirth in the Pure Land.
In essence, consciousness enters the mind continuum as the mindstream and is reborn according to the fruition of karma.
A thorough reading of Yogacara and certain Vajrayana sutras will confirm this.
Yet you may ask, "is the mind then permanent?"
No, when one considers it spiritual energy, the ordinary mind is impermanent.
For the consciousness which merges with the physical form "creates" mind.
When one dies, that consciousness (mindstream) returns to the Absolute as Alaya.
Then it is sent out again according to karmic merit, to influence the destiny it chooses, be it rebirth as the creation of new life in a new existence (samsara), or rebirth in the Pure Land.
In essence, consciousness enters the mind continuum as the mindstream and is reborn according to the fruition of karma.
A thorough reading of Yogacara and certain Vajrayana sutras will confirm this.
20130104
Mind and Consciousness As Viewed by the Buddhist
Is the mind a quality of consciousness? No, the mind cannot be a quality of consciousness as it (the mind) arises through the outflow from the brain.
It is an impossibility for conscious to be aware of the mind, since the mind being aware indicates consciousness, whilst consciousness is a quality of the mind.
Is consciousness a quality of the mind? Yes, for the mind is conscious of self and others.
With respect to the consciousness-only school of Buddhism, consciousness itself arises from the mind, which itself arises from the brain's activities.
If the brain dies, so too does consciousness and the mind. Therefore, it can be said that consciousness is also a quality of the active brain.
Thus, consciousness is vaguely aware of itself but to be conscious of consciousness is redundant in syntax. This is why such consciousness is called awareness. Another term used is meta-consciousness, though I haven't heard of it or read of it.
If we replace consciousness with awareness, then the questions are better answered.
Is the mind a quality of awareness? No, because you need a mind to be aware of itself and consciousness.
Is awareness a quality of the mind? Yes, because the mind can be aware of itself and consciousness.
However, could the mind become a quality of awareness? It is possible, despite syntactical errors.
Then it is possible for consciousness to be aware of consciousness, and for the mind to be aware of consciousness. However, the mind can be aware of itself too. Such a mind is known as the diamond mind. Being aware of itself implies clarity of mind as well as mental transparency (the ability to see things through).
Thus awareness is not equal to consciousness but are two facets of the mind..
Since both the mind and consciousness can be aware of consciousness, it follows that the mind is similar to consciousness.
Yet the mind cannot be equal to consciousness since without the mind, it is gone.
Yet is an unconscious mind aware? No, it cannot use the senses.
You'll find that using the senses one can find out a lot about the mind: it can experience phenomenon, both inner (of the mind) or outer (material). Also, the mind can experience phenomenon that has no existence outside fictional works be it in print, on the big and silver screen, especially video.
As well, the mind can be aware of the fact that every character and sentient being in a manga is a conscious entity and thus possesses consciousness, despite the fact that every character and sentient being have no physical existence apart from a poor sketch of each character.
Going further, since Amida Buddha has a cover story, it depicts a mythical king who pledged allegiance ot a Buddha of a bygone era before the historical Buddha, and consequently founded a Buddha world called "The Pure Land of Bliss." After many lifetimes he became the twin Buddhas, Amida Buddha and Amitayus Buddha (Boundless Light of Wisdom and Boundless Life of Compassion respectively. These twins meditated for many eons and soon merged as one, called Amida Buddha.
How is this related to awareness and consciousness? Metaphorically, awareness denote a generalization of the feeling of being aware that is shared between all sentient beings. In contrast, consciousness is the generalization of the feeling of being consciousness. Just as one can be conscious of having a mind, a mind can be aware of being conscious. Thus being conscious and being aware are almost alike just a Amida and Amitayus are alike and just as Wisdom and Compassion are alike.
Compassion applies being able to be selfless enough to lose self-consciousness. Ergo it is associated with awareness. Thus one can be aware of being compassionate, yet have an awareness of compassion.
Wisdom on the other hand applies to experiencing phenomenon from a personal point of view, must as being conscious is. Thus one can be conscious of being wise, and wisdom is thus the shared view of being wise.
Thus awareness of compassion is possible and being conscious of wisdom is too possible.
Likewise one can be aware of being wise, and be conscious of compassion.
Therefore wisdom and compassion are but two facets of the diamond mind.
It is an impossibility for conscious to be aware of the mind, since the mind being aware indicates consciousness, whilst consciousness is a quality of the mind.
Is consciousness a quality of the mind? Yes, for the mind is conscious of self and others.
With respect to the consciousness-only school of Buddhism, consciousness itself arises from the mind, which itself arises from the brain's activities.
If the brain dies, so too does consciousness and the mind. Therefore, it can be said that consciousness is also a quality of the active brain.
Thus, consciousness is vaguely aware of itself but to be conscious of consciousness is redundant in syntax. This is why such consciousness is called awareness. Another term used is meta-consciousness, though I haven't heard of it or read of it.
If we replace consciousness with awareness, then the questions are better answered.
Is the mind a quality of awareness? No, because you need a mind to be aware of itself and consciousness.
Is awareness a quality of the mind? Yes, because the mind can be aware of itself and consciousness.
However, could the mind become a quality of awareness? It is possible, despite syntactical errors.
Then it is possible for consciousness to be aware of consciousness, and for the mind to be aware of consciousness. However, the mind can be aware of itself too. Such a mind is known as the diamond mind. Being aware of itself implies clarity of mind as well as mental transparency (the ability to see things through).
Thus awareness is not equal to consciousness but are two facets of the mind..
Since both the mind and consciousness can be aware of consciousness, it follows that the mind is similar to consciousness.
Yet the mind cannot be equal to consciousness since without the mind, it is gone.
Yet is an unconscious mind aware? No, it cannot use the senses.
You'll find that using the senses one can find out a lot about the mind: it can experience phenomenon, both inner (of the mind) or outer (material). Also, the mind can experience phenomenon that has no existence outside fictional works be it in print, on the big and silver screen, especially video.
As well, the mind can be aware of the fact that every character and sentient being in a manga is a conscious entity and thus possesses consciousness, despite the fact that every character and sentient being have no physical existence apart from a poor sketch of each character.
Going further, since Amida Buddha has a cover story, it depicts a mythical king who pledged allegiance ot a Buddha of a bygone era before the historical Buddha, and consequently founded a Buddha world called "The Pure Land of Bliss." After many lifetimes he became the twin Buddhas, Amida Buddha and Amitayus Buddha (Boundless Light of Wisdom and Boundless Life of Compassion respectively. These twins meditated for many eons and soon merged as one, called Amida Buddha.
How is this related to awareness and consciousness? Metaphorically, awareness denote a generalization of the feeling of being aware that is shared between all sentient beings. In contrast, consciousness is the generalization of the feeling of being consciousness. Just as one can be conscious of having a mind, a mind can be aware of being conscious. Thus being conscious and being aware are almost alike just a Amida and Amitayus are alike and just as Wisdom and Compassion are alike.
Compassion applies being able to be selfless enough to lose self-consciousness. Ergo it is associated with awareness. Thus one can be aware of being compassionate, yet have an awareness of compassion.
Wisdom on the other hand applies to experiencing phenomenon from a personal point of view, must as being conscious is. Thus one can be conscious of being wise, and wisdom is thus the shared view of being wise.
Thus awareness of compassion is possible and being conscious of wisdom is too possible.
Likewise one can be aware of being wise, and be conscious of compassion.
Therefore wisdom and compassion are but two facets of the diamond mind.
20121231
Buddhism: The Toolkit of Consciousness
My lifelong experience with Buddhism has proven to me that being deeply spiritual requires suspension of disbelief, faith in subjective reality and the objectivity of reason.
The Buddha, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Dharma - these actually are actually processes contained in the mind to define, and to experience consciousness more fully. They are actuated through meditation.
Hence they are mind tools in the sense that they actually are used to explore the psychology of the mind. For all the discrete concepts of Buddhism represent at their core the many different facets of consciousness itself.
However, take care not to worship anything in Buddhism as a thing in itself. For Buddhism has no room for idolatry. It is essentially a toolkit that has been used for over 2500 years to explore the depths of consciousness.
Today, only fools consider Buddhism to be a religion like Christianity, and thus useless to the pursuit of profit. This flies in the face of daily proof that religious institutions actually gather together people of like mind to not only worship but also to profit from what amounts to a golden chain of love for each other's mutual good. For religious endeavor of any kind funded for spiritual profit is worthy of contribution, both financial and scholarly.
So, take what you want from what you learn about Buddhism to use as tools to explore consciousness, such as meditation and even the various layers of the consciousness as described in the Yogacara school of Buddhism.
I expect anyone reading this to do their research first. My blog contains enough clues to learn about the Buddha and what he symbolizes.
Even so, nobody is obliged to do so. All I ask is that anyone who wishes to walk on without careful research to avoid disrespecting the Buddha in a serious manner, because I might just show the fruit of your karma and make you eat it. >:)
Summary of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: http://www.acmuller.net/yogacara/outlines/YBh-summary-utf8.htm
Search for "self and other" in the above webpage.
The Buddha, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Dharma - these actually are actually processes contained in the mind to define, and to experience consciousness more fully. They are actuated through meditation.
Hence they are mind tools in the sense that they actually are used to explore the psychology of the mind. For all the discrete concepts of Buddhism represent at their core the many different facets of consciousness itself.
However, take care not to worship anything in Buddhism as a thing in itself. For Buddhism has no room for idolatry. It is essentially a toolkit that has been used for over 2500 years to explore the depths of consciousness.
Today, only fools consider Buddhism to be a religion like Christianity, and thus useless to the pursuit of profit. This flies in the face of daily proof that religious institutions actually gather together people of like mind to not only worship but also to profit from what amounts to a golden chain of love for each other's mutual good. For religious endeavor of any kind funded for spiritual profit is worthy of contribution, both financial and scholarly.
So, take what you want from what you learn about Buddhism to use as tools to explore consciousness, such as meditation and even the various layers of the consciousness as described in the Yogacara school of Buddhism.
I expect anyone reading this to do their research first. My blog contains enough clues to learn about the Buddha and what he symbolizes.
Even so, nobody is obliged to do so. All I ask is that anyone who wishes to walk on without careful research to avoid disrespecting the Buddha in a serious manner, because I might just show the fruit of your karma and make you eat it. >:)
Summary of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: http://www.acmuller.net/yogacara/outlines/YBh-summary-utf8.htm
Search for "self and other" in the above webpage.
20110828
On the Mind
Kashyapa said: "Mind is not to be found within. Nor does it exist outside. And it can not be observed anywhere else."
To which Maitreya adds: "Mind has no shape, no colour and no location. It is like space."
In our delusion, what is arrogant and conceited but ego?
Yet ego itself has no substance (no, shape, no color, no location), is impermanent, existing neither within nor without.
It is the seventh consciousness, and once it is appeased, delusion falls away.
Yet the eight consciousness is seen to be non-self, i.e. not a soul that transmigrates, but where the seeds of karma are sown, including the desire to spiritually awaken.
Originally written June 28, 2010 at 11:29 PM
To which Maitreya adds: "Mind has no shape, no colour and no location. It is like space."
In our delusion, what is arrogant and conceited but ego?
Yet ego itself has no substance (no, shape, no color, no location), is impermanent, existing neither within nor without.
It is the seventh consciousness, and once it is appeased, delusion falls away.
Yet the eight consciousness is seen to be non-self, i.e. not a soul that transmigrates, but where the seeds of karma are sown, including the desire to spiritually awaken.
Originally written June 28, 2010 at 11:29 PM
20100811
Head Up High (Poem)
I saw the chair that the Buddha sat in.
I hear the words that the Buddha had spoken.
I felt the rain, looked up in the sky, and
Held my head up high, despite the pain.
Childhood is sorrow, the ancients did say.
Wait until tomorrow, and do as you may.
When one man conquers himself, he gains
much more than wealth and power.
He redeems his whole life forever more.
No "I am" is that there is at all.
Raise up Ego and see yourself fall.
In a mirror darkly is seen the face
of the one who blows dust off it.
The ancients said true consciousness exists,
but this world is ephemeral and fleeting.
Thoughts come and go, but the serenity of mind stays.
Feeling arise and fall, but pure mind remains.
Hold up your head high and go forward!
I hear the words that the Buddha had spoken.
I felt the rain, looked up in the sky, and
Held my head up high, despite the pain.
Childhood is sorrow, the ancients did say.
Wait until tomorrow, and do as you may.
When one man conquers himself, he gains
much more than wealth and power.
He redeems his whole life forever more.
No "I am" is that there is at all.
Raise up Ego and see yourself fall.
In a mirror darkly is seen the face
of the one who blows dust off it.
The ancients said true consciousness exists,
but this world is ephemeral and fleeting.
Thoughts come and go, but the serenity of mind stays.
Feeling arise and fall, but pure mind remains.
Hold up your head high and go forward!
20100703
Buddha Nature and the Nature of All Things
Having Buddha Nature, all sentient beings are buddha. Thus, through interaction with others, each of us helps to care for each other and to be of service to others.
Having heard the Buddhadharma, specifically the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Noble Path and dependent arising, one is awakened to the purpose of life, which is to help others and to be of service to them. Thus is one spiritually awakened.
Indeed, the spiritually awakened strive for Enlightenment, and learn from their interaction with the world to let go of anger, delusion, fear, hatred, and other mental negativities as well as the behavioral negativities arising from them.
Through meditative practice, one learns to calm the mind so that one develops the insight necessary to understand the Buddhist teachings.
Thus one is able to see that dependent arising leads to mastery over the five consciousnesses of the five senses, the sixth consciousness of the mind, the seventh consciousness known as "ego" and the eighth consciousness falsely considered the "soul" through validation of emptiness.
For emptiness proves dependent arising accounts for the eight consciousnesses, which are but qualities of the mind.
Yet were the mind to be impermanent, could seeds of karma planted in the eighth consciousness come to fruition? And could they be planted at all in the absence of the mind?
Yes, but only if the eighth consciousness is Buddha Nature, which, of course, is the nature of all things.
20100519
The Eight Consciousnesses in Yogacara
In the Yogacara school, two more consciousnesses are added to the Six Consciousnesses known to other schools of Buddhism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijnana#Eight_vij.C3.B1.C4.81nas
1. a consciousness called klistamanas, which gathers the hindrances, the poisons, the karmic formations.
2. the ālāyavijñāna is the consciousness "basis of everything" and has been translated as "store consciousness".
Wow! Two higher consciousnesses, one which gathers the hindrances, the poisons (klesha) and the karmic formations (samskaras), all of which defile the mind IF the ego is not appeased through loving-kindness meditation so as to let go of them; and the other to store karmic latencies and so much more. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogacara#The_eight_consciousnesses.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijnana#Eight_vij.C3.B1.C4.81nas
1. a consciousness called klistamanas, which gathers the hindrances, the poisons, the karmic formations.
2. the ālāyavijñāna is the consciousness "basis of everything" and has been translated as "store consciousness".
Wow! Two higher consciousnesses, one which gathers the hindrances, the poisons (klesha) and the karmic formations (samskaras), all of which defile the mind IF the ego is not appeased through loving-kindness meditation so as to let go of them; and the other to store karmic latencies and so much more. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogacara#The_eight_consciousnesses.)
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