We will look at the nature of the mind, an idea which belongs primarily within Buddhist yogacara philosophy. I want to first set out two basic positions about looking into our experience of being alive in the world, and then relate that to the methods of meditation.

James Low

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Karma Thegchen Chö Ling, Bremen, Germany
17-18 June 1995
Transcribed by Liz Fox
Unedited

Excerpts

“…The Buddha’s teachings are radical, disturbing—they turn our world upside-down and shift the basis of who we think we are. Everything that we know, everything that we’re connected with is still here, but we start to see it differently. If we focus on the difference we will feel disturbed, which is why reflecting on impermanence is an important preparatory practice, for the more we see impermanence as the natural state of affairs, the more we see that relying on phenomena to provide a true refuge is not wise…”
“…Recognising the empty nature of everything including ourselves is wisdom, for it frees us from false attribution and allows us to experience what is occurring without involvement, attachment or bias. Experiencing form as inseparable from emptiness is compassion for we see how sentient beings mis-take illusory forms to be substantial entities and through this generate great suffering for themselves…
“…Relax into your own ground, the natural perfection of your own presence. Experience its limitless infinity and see directly that it is the ground, source and field of all experience. This is your home territory… this is where you belong… so why not relax and enjoy it?

Contents
Taking refuge 1
Freud’s method and meditation’s method 4
Shiné meditation using the letter ‘Aa’ 6
A difference between Christian and Buddhist viewpoints 7
Question about boredom 12
What use do we make of teachers: a day with Dudjom Rinpoche 13