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Taking Hold of the Great Vehicle: Momentary Cessation - The Sphere of Being

Thich Nhat Hanh · February 3, 2000 · Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, France
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The store consciousness (A-laya-vijñāna) is the place where the deepest seeds are kept for the arising of the pure, transcendent mind; because when listening to the Dharma, the ear consciousness only receives sound, the mind of appropriate attention (manaskāra) arises, and then the ear consciousness and the previous mind consciousness both cease, unable to retain the seed of right view. Appropriate attention (manaskāra) is the mind’s correct focus directed toward liberation, different from inappropriate attention (ayoniṣo manaskāra), which entangles the mind in the world. The arrangement of the monastery environment (the sound of the bell, incense, architecture, etc.) is to support the arising of appropriate attention, providing favorable conditions for practice, but it cannot replace the role of the store consciousness, A-laya.

Transformation of the basis (āśraya-parāvṛtti) does not mean eliminating the store consciousness, but to transform the polluted foundation into purity, like clear water mixing with muddy water. Seeds, though decisive, always change according to conditions, never absolutely immutable. The momentary cessation and constant transformation express the impermanence and non-self of all dharmas, including seeds. Within one seed are contained all other seeds—one dharma contains all dharmas, all dharmas are contained in one dharma—showing that the absolutely pure Dharma realm is right within our consciousness, with no need to seek elsewhere.

  1. Two kinds of purity

    • Worldly purity: opposed to defilement, reduces suffering but does not transcend the three realms
    • Transcendent purity: the result of learning and practicing the true Dharma, transcending the three realms

  2. Three stages of listening to the Dharma

    1. The ear consciousness receives sound
    2. The mind corresponding to appropriate attention arises
    3. The transcendent mind with right view arises from the seed in A-laya

  3. Transformation of the store consciousness

    • Not abandoning, but transforming the polluted foundation into purity
    • The Dharma body and liberation are right in A-laya, like clear water in a vessel of muddy water
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Previous Talk February 3, 2000
47m

"Achieving Purity: Breaking Free from the Five Impurities in Sukhavati"

Next Talk February 6, 2000
13m

Thunder and Gentle Cloud: Invoking Avalokiteshvara’s Dharma Rain