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.

The State of "Mindlessness"

We practitioners ought to relinquish our attachments all the time so that we would be free of secular concerns toward the end of our lives.

If you continue to indulge yourself, there is the grave danger that you may go astray at this crucial moment of rebirth. Therefore, try to maintain the serenity of your mind while discarding all distinctions between good and bad. You will then attain the state of "mindlessness."

This, however, does not mean that you have become indifferent; rather, it means that you have let go of your sense of discrimination. The attainment of such a state will then be a clear indication of your genuine prowess in practice.

~ Analects of Master Kuang-ch'in

The True Nature of "I Am"

In a recent discussion, we were talking about one of the Eight Sufferings—the suffering of old age.

We suffer because each of us is attached to our idea of who “I” am. Perhaps we identify ourselves as “artist” or “surgeon” or “singer.” Then, one day, comes the realization that the skills that have become an intrinsic part of who we are have slipped beyond our ability to perform them. We are unable to paint the mermaid we see so clearly in our mind, unable to perform an operation that could save a young man’s life, unable to sing the classical music that people have been enthralled by for the last two hundred years. We are no longer an “artist,” or a “surgeon,” or a “singer.”

We can no longer practice the skill that enabled us to help or to inspire others, the skill that gave us our identity and which made us special,.Initially, we are hit by a wave of intense loss. If we remain attached to our idea of “I am …,” our sense of loss will never subside. And this will cause us great suffering.

But if we understand that everything truly is impermanent, that we are more than artist or surgeon or singer, our suffering will abate. After all, our life is a series of “I am…” I am a strong and nimble child. I am a student who can study all night and stay awake through class the next day. I am a daughter who can visit her parents and know that there are two people on this earth who love me unconditionally.

So we each can say “I am” of many things. All of which were impermanent. Just like our identity.

Our clinging to this identity is like trying to hold on to a cloud. Seeing the cloud from a distance it looks real, and able to be held on to. Being next to it and trying to hold it, we realize it is impossible. This is the nature of impermanence and impermanence comprises all the things of our mundane world.

Realizing the cloud is impermanent and that our clinging to it will only end in suffering will eventually lessen our suffering. As will understanding the true nature of “I am.”

Found: Piece of Cheese, Owner Unclear

Before using something that belongs to another,

we should ask for permission.

If we do not ask, it is stealing.

“Excuse me, sir. I don’t mean to be rude and I certainly don’t wish to bother you. But may I please ask what you are doing with that cheese?”

It was a reasonable question. And very politely asked. But then Cameo was a very polite cat. When her mother was pregnant, the doctor told her she needed to get plenty of rest if she wanted to have healthy kittens. Putting her kittens’ needs first, Cameo’s mother did exactly as she was told. Since she lived in a bookstore, she decided the logical thing to do would be to spend her time reading. And so she read many books.

One of her favorites was on etiquette. She felt that since her kittens would be living with humans, it would be helpful for them to know what humans considered as good behavior. So she diligently studied the book and taught her kittens all about human etiquette.

By listening attentively to her mother, Cameo grew up to be a very polite cat. She would run to greet people as they came into the bookshop, making eye contact as she welcomed them. If they didn’t answer her, she didn’t mind. After all, their thoughts could be elsewhere.

When invited, she would jump up onto the customer’s lap when they sat in the chairs scattered around the shop. She would listen attentively as the customer spoke to her and meowed back her carefully considered responses. When they left, she would slowly walk them to the door to let them know she was sad to see them go.

So it was only logical that when Cameo spoke to the mouse she did so respectfully. “Excuse me, sir. I don’t mean to be rude and I certainly don’t wish to bother you. But may I please ask what you are doing with that cheese?” she queried.

The mouse, who was called Elmer, was so shocked that he dropped the big chunk of Swiss and just stared at her. Never had he met a polite cat. Or one that talked for that matter. He finally blurted out “Huh?” (Unlike Cameo, Elmer did not have the benefit of a good education). Cameo calmly repeated her question and tried to make eye contact, but now Elmer wouldn't look directly at her.

“Uhh, I found it,” he muttered.

Cameo sat down and studied Elmer. “May I ask where you found it?”

This was more than Elmer had bargained for, and he was getting rather worried. His mother just told him to go get the cheese. But she hadn’t warned him about the bookshop cat who thought she was a lawyer.

“On Mr. Rasmussen’s desk,” he stammered.

Cameo said, “Then the cheese must belong to Mr. Rasmussen. Excuse me for asking, but did he say you could have it?”

“No,” Elmer nervously admitted.

“Oh dear. Then you’re stealing it,” concluded Cameo.

Indignantly, Elmer declared, “I’m not a thief! I found it lying on the table. No one was eating it. No one was even around!”

“But if the owner of the cheese did not give it to you, then you took it without permission. And I’m very sorry, but that’s stealing,” Cameo explained.

Elmer’s eye got bigger as he asked “Are you sure? I thought if I found something just lying around, then it didn’t belong to anyone. Finders keepers! So I took it.”

“No. Almost everything belongs to someone. Like that cheese. Before we take something, we need to find and ask the owner first.” Cameo was trying to be kind because clearly Elmer didn’t know that he was doing anything wrong.

“I didn’t think of that. You’re right.” And with that, Elmer began to wail, “Oh no, I am a thief!”

“No, not if you put it back and never take anything again,” Cameo assured him. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out a way to get the cheese back on the table.”

And that is just what they did. Cameo then promised Elmer that she would never tell anyone what had happened. And Elmer never again took anything without first asking the owner.

Regrettably dear reader, as much as I would like to tell you how they put the cheese back, I cannot. When Elmer told me about this, he made me promise not to tell anyone because that might get a certain bird in trouble. 

Meatless Monday

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