MIND IN A NUTSHELL Before we start to practice it is important that we have some understanding of the mind.

Our objective is to practice the interior method in order to obtain mental calmness but before we can do this we must first understand the nature of the mind and its classifications. The mind and conscience are both synonyms for what we call the principal mind. This mind is luminous and knowing by nature. This means that if an object appears before it the mind will recognize and know it. So on one side we have the mind that is clear and knowing by nature and on the other side we have secondary mental factors. Within the second category of secondary mental factors there are many types of mental afflictions and distorted concepts. Although the mind is luminous and knowing by nature it is effected when these mental defects arise. We can say that in a way our principal mind is pulled towards these mental defects and then assumes the characteristics of the secondary mental factor that it is being influenced by. When this happens our mind goes into a state of torpor. Eventually this mental defect will cease and the mind will return to its calm state of nature. In the Buddha Dharma teachings we say every being has the possibility or potential to become completely illuminated because each individuals principal mind is luminous by nature and this is the base for which one can accomplishment enlightenment. These secondary mental factors include mental afflictions and afflictive emotions like hate. Even if our mind is luminous and knowing by nature when hate arises it conditions and influences our principal mind. The principal mind will follow the mental affliction of hate. Someone can have a calm and tranquil mind one second and then they run into causes and conditions that give rise to strong hate the second. The thing we must remember is that this strong negative emotion will not last forever. It will eventually cease because it is not something that is one with the principal mind. If hate were one with the principal mind it would mean that as long as a person was alive they would always be in an angry state. This state of anger arises but will eventually cease and when this happens the mind will return to its natural state of luminosity. It is important for us to recognize that our mind has of both a conventional aspect and ultimate nature. When I say the mind has a conventional aspect it makes of think of all types of different objects. All the objects that we encounter in our day-to-day reality are all part of the conventional mind. Our conventional mind is equally difficult to recognize because we have many different distorted concepts that impede and cloud its ability. The first thing that we must do is purify these distorted concepts and then we will be able to see the minds ultimate nature. Because we have difficulty even seeing the conventional aspect of the mind it is very hard for us to have a clear appearance of what the mind is. This not knowing or recognizing the conventional aspect is due to the fact that we have obstacles that are based on our memories and numerous worries. We remember all of our negative past experiences and worry about our future. This imagining of our future and remembering of the past impedes us from having a clear appearance of the mind in the present. If we want to have a clear appearance of what our mind really is we must first stop remembering all these negative things of the past. This habit of reliving old memories over and over again must be abandoned along with the tendency to worry about the future. When one stops thinking about these past memories and the imagined possibilities of the future they will be obliged to think about the present instant by instant. Repeating the exercise above and familiarizing ourselves with living in the present moment will give us the possibility to have a clear appearance of our minds true nature in the future. We can use the analogy of an agitated body of water to describe the process above. If you do not disturb the water it will eventually become transparent and calm. This is the first step in being able

to recognize or give rise to the mind in its true nature. A good moment to do this type of exercise is immediately after waking. After we wake up our body hasnt started to move yet and therefore our wind energy is not agitated. The combination of nonmovement and still wind energy will result in a neutral state of mind. When the mind is in this state it has the capacity for greater intelligence. Because the mind is calm and our bodies canals are still clear we will have the right condition to see what we are going to do that day in this moment. If we develop the habit of starting each morning, upon waking, with this type of meditation we will have calmer minds and this will positively affect the rest of our day. You do not have to be a religious person to obtain benefits from this type of practice. This type of meditation where one focuses on stopping the continuous recollection of past memories and worry about the future is a type of base discourse. If one wants to develop an even profounder type of calm dwelling they can practice Shine or one-pointed concentrative meditation. A person is limited with their sensorial capacities but there is no limit on what our mental conscience can do. Our senses do not have unlimited potential but our mental conscience does. If I ask you what is on the other side of a wall for example you will not be able to tell me as your sight is limited by nature. The mental conscience, on the other hand, has the ability to see through this impediment and see exactly what is on the other side of the wall. This is an example of how the mind has superior capacity in regards to our senses. You might be thinking that it would be impossible if I tried to see what is behind a closed door with my mind in this way. Your mind is not able to do this, at this point in time, because it is blocked by many wrong conceptions and fantasies. If I ask you to concentrate extremely hard on a closed door to and tell me what is on the other side you might have a hundred different things that come to mind. All of these different types of imaginings are what I mean when I say wrong conceptions. One of these things that we are imagining could be the correct choice but it is our lack in discernment that impedes us from seeing which one it is. In the same way I could ask you what another person is thinking and many wrong conceptions would spring up. But the mind, which is luminous and knowing by nature, can recognize what the other person is thinking, before all of these other wrong conceptions arise. An omniscient or illuminated being clearly sees what is happening in both cases above because their mind is already in a luminous and knowing state without the presence of wrong conceptions. There are also those people who practice hypnosis and they use different techniques to get a person into calm state where they are almost asleep. This state is very similar to what we are in when we are dreaming. In my opinion these people who are under hypnosis are able to answer questions about their past and have a much greater mental capacity because their wrong conceptions have been temporarily removed by the hypnosis resulting in a mind that is much closer to its true nature. The point I would like to get across is that there is great power in removing these wrong conceptions and giving rise to our mind at its true state and it can be done without going into hypnosis or a dream state. Shine is a type of meditation that will give us the power to harness our minds concentrative ability resulting in a calmer mind with a much clearer vision of reality. This is what this teaching is going to explain in further detail.