How to Understand the Mind - The Condensed Meaning of the Text

Kadampa Buddhism

Definition of the mind:

The definition of the mind is something whose nature is empty like space, always lacking form, shape and colour, and whose function is to perceive or understand objects.

What are the six types of primary minds?

1. Eye consciousness

2. Ear consciousness

3. Nose consciousness

4. Tongue consciousness

5. Body consciousness

6. Mental consciousness

What is our mind, how can the mind move and, what are the different levels of mind?

The definition of the mind is something whose nature is empty like space, always lacking form, shape and colour, and whose function is to perceive or understand objects.

From the point of view of its different levels, the mind has three:

1. Gross

2. Subtle

3. Very Subtle

The primary mind and it’s mental factors possess five similarities:

1. Basis

2. Object

3. Aspect

4. Time

5. Substance

B.O.A.T.S.

There are fifty-one mental factors, which are divided into six groups:

1 The five all-accompanying mental factors

2 The five object-ascertaining mental factors

3 The eleven virtuous mental factors

4 The six root delusions

5 The twenty secondary delusions

6 The four changeable mental factors

The five all-accompanying mental factors are:

1 Feeling

2 Discrimination

3 Intention

4 Contact

5 Attention

There are three types of feeling:

1 Pleasant feelings

2 Unpleasant feelings

3 Neutral feelings

There is also a twofold division of feeling from the point of view of their uncommon dominant condition:

1 Bodily feelings

2 Mental feelings

There is another twofold division of feeling from the point of view of their nature:

1 Contaminated feelings

2 Uncontaminated feelings

Definition of discrimination:

The definition of discrimination is a mental factor that functions to apprehend the uncommon sign of an object.

There are six types of discrimination:

1 Discriminations associated with eye consciousness

2 Discriminations associated with ear consciousness

3 Discriminations associated with nose consciousness

4 Discriminations associated with tongue consciousness

5 Discriminations associated with body consciousness

6 Discriminations associated with mental consciousness

There is also a twofold division of discrimination:

1 Mistaken discriminations

2 Non-mistaken discriminations

There is another twofold division of discrimination:

1 Clear discriminations

2 Unclear discriminations

Definition of intention:

The definition of intention is a mental factor that functions to focus its primary mind on an object.

There are three types of intention:

1 Non-virtuous intentions

2 Virtuous intentions

3 Neutral intentions

There are three types of non-virtuous action:

1 Non-virtuous bodily actions

2 Non-virtuous verbal actions

3 Non-virtuous mental actions

There is another threefold division of intention:

1 Meritorious actions

2 Non-meritorious actions

3 Unfluctuating actions

The definition of contact:

The definition of contact is a mental factor that functions to perceive its object as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.

There are six types of contact:

1 Contact associated with eye consciousness

2 Contact associated with ear consciousness

3 Contact associated with nose consciousness

4 Contact associated with tongue consciousness

5 Contact associated with body consciousness

6 Contact associated with mental consciousness

The definition of attention:

The definition of attention is a mental factor that functions to focus the mind on a particular attribute of an object.

There are two types of attention:

1 Correct attention

2 Incorrect attention

There is another twofold division of attention:

1 Appropriate attention

2 Inappropriate attention

The five object-ascertaining mental factors are:

1 Aspiration

2 Firm apprehension

3 Mindfulness

4 Concentration

5 Wisdom

There is another twofold division of attention:

1 Appropriate attention

2 Inappropriate attention

The five object-ascertaining mental factors are:

1 Aspiration

2 Firm apprehension

3 Mindfulness

4 Concentration

5 Wisdom

The definition of aspiration:

The definition of aspiration is a mental factor that focuses on a desired object and takes an interest in it.

There are four types of aspiration:

1 Wishing to meet an object

2 Wishing not to be separated from an object

3 Wishing to obtain an object

4 Wishing to be released from an object

Each of these can be virtuous, non-virtuous or neutral, depending upon its motivation.

There is also a twofold division of aspiration:

1 Mistaken aspirations

2 Non-mistaken aspirations

The definition of firm apprehension is:

The definition of firm apprehension is a mental factor that makes its primary mind apprehend its object firmly.

There are two types of firm apprehension:

1 Correct firm apprehensions

2 Mistaken firm apprehensions

The definition of mindfulness is:

The definition of mindfulness is a mental factor that functions not to forget the object realized by the primary mind.

There are two types of mindfulness:

1 New mindfulness

2 Old mindfulness

There is another twofold division of mindfulness:

1 Mindfulness with movements of mental sinking and mental excitement

2 Mindfulness without movements of mental sinking and mental excitement

The definition of concentration is:

The definition of concentration is a mental factor that makes its primary mind remain on its object single-pointedly.

There are three ways of dividing virtuous concentration:

There are three ways of dividing virtuous concentration: from the point of view of 1) realm, from the point of view of 2) its effect and from the point of view of its 3) object.

There is a threefold division of meditation:

1 Meditation of a person of initial scope

2 Meditation of a person of middling scope

3 Meditation of a person of great scope

There are five meditations of a person of initial scope:

1 Meditation on the preciousness of our human life

2 Meditation on death

3 Meditation on the dangers of lower rebirth

4 Meditation on going for refuge

5 Meditation on karma

There are four meditations of a person of middling scope:

1 Meditation on renunciation

2 Meditation on our determination to recognize, reduce and abandon our self-grasping ignorance, the root of samsaric rebirth

3 Meditation on our determination to enter and make progress on the path to liberation

4 Meditation on the ultimate truth of cessation

There are five meditations of a person of great scope:

1 Meditation on cherishing all living beings

2 Meditation on universal compassion

3 Meditation on the supreme good heart, bodhichitta

4 Meditation on our determination and promise to sincerely practise the six perfections

5 Meditation on training in yogic direct perceivers

P.328 - The eleven virtuous mental factors are:

1 Faith

2 Sense of shame

3 Consideration for others

4 Non-attachment

5 Non-hatred

6 Non-ignorance

7 Effort

8 Mental suppleness

9 Conscientiousness

10 Equanimity

11 Non-harmfulness

The definition of faith:

A mental factor that functions principally to eliminate non-faith.

There are three types of faith:

1 Believing faith

2 Admiring faith

3 Wishing faith

The definition of sense of shame is -

A mental factor that functions to avoid inappropriate actions for reasons that concern ourself.

There are three types of sense of shame:

1 Sense of shame that restrains us from inappropriate bodily actions

2 Sense of shame that restrains us from inappropriate verbal actions

3 Sense of shame that restrains us from inappropriate mental actions

There is also a twofold division of sense of shame:

1 Sense of shame that restrains us from inappropriate actions out of concern simply for ourself

2 Sense of shame that restrains us from inappropriate actions out of concern for the specific undesirable results for ourself

The definition of consideration for others -

Is a mental factor that functions to avoid inappropriate actions for reasons that concern others.

There are three types of consideration for others:

1 Consideration for others that restrains us from inappro­priate bodily actions

2 Consideration for others that restrains us from inappro­priate verbal actions

3 Consideration for others that restrains us from inappro­priate mental actions

There is also a twofold division of consideration for others:

1 Consideration for others that restrains us from inappro­priate actions out of concern simply for others

2 Consideration for others that restrains us from inappro­priate actions out of concern for the specific undesirable results for others

The definition of non-attachment -

Is a mental factor that functions as the direct opponent of attachment.

There are nine levels of desire realm concentration:

1 Placing the mind

2 Continual placement

3 Replacement

4 Close placement

5 Controlling

6 Pacifying

7 Completely pacifying

8 Single-pointedness

9 Placement in equipoise

There are three types of non-attachment:

1 Non-attachment to samsaric places

2 Non-attachment to samsaric enjoyments

3 Non-attachment to samsaric bodies

There are nine levels of concentration from the point of view of realm:

1 Concentration of the desire realm

2 Concentration of the first form realm

3 Concentration of the second form realm

4 Concentration of the third form realm

5 Concentration of the fourth form realm

6 Concentration of infinite space

7 Concentration of infinite consciousness

8 Concentration of nothingness

9 Concentration of peak of samsara

There are two types of concentration from the point of view of their effect:

1 Mundane concentrations

2 Supramundane concentrations

There is another twofold division of concentration from the point of view of its object:

1 Concentrations observing conventional objects

2 Concentrations observing ultimate objects

The definition of wisdom

Is a virtuous, intelligent mind that makes its primary mind realize a meaningful object.

There are three types of wisdom:

1 Wisdom arisen from listening or reading

2 Wisdom arisen from contemplation

3 Wisdom arisen from meditation

There is also a sevenfold division of wisdom:

1 Great wisdom

2 Clear wisdom

3 Quick wisdom

4 Profound wisdom

5 The wisdom of expounding Dharma

6 The wisdom of spiritual debate

7 The wisdom of composing Dharma books

There is another threefold division of non-attachment:

1 Non-attachment to this life

2 Non-attachment to samsara

3 Non-attachment to solitary peace

The definition of non-hatred

Is a mental factor that functions as the direct opponent of hatred.

There are three types of non-hatred:

1 Non-hatred towards those who harm us

2 Non-hatred towards inanimate objects that cause us suffering

3 Non-hatred towards resultant suffering

The definition of non-ignorance

Is a mental factor that functions as the direct opponent of ignorance.

There are four types of non-ignorance:

1 Non-ignorance arisen from listening or reading

2 Non-ignorance arisen from contemplation

3 Non-ignorance arisen from meditation

4 Non-ignorance arisen from imprints

The definition of effort

is a mental factor that makes its primary mind delight in virtue.

There are four types of effort:

1 Armour-like effort

2 Effort of non-discouragement

3 Effort of application

4 Effort of non-satisfaction

There is also a fivefold division of effort:

1 Armour-like effort

2 Effort of non-discouragement

3 Effort of application

4 Effort of non-satisfaction

5 Effort of irreversibility

There is also a threefold division of effort:

1 Armour-like effort

2 Effort of gathering virtuous Dharmas

3 Effort of benefiting others

There are four powers:

1 The power of aspiration

2 The power of steadfastness

3 The power of joy

4 The power of rejection