Sky Nature of Mind

Below is an interesting article in "The Speaking Tree" column of TOI, 5th May 2010.

Sky Nature Of Mind

By Girish Deshpande

In every sentient being the buddha mind is omnipresent. We don’t have to go looking for it. We don’t have to strive to perfect it. It has been with us since birth and it is always perfect! Just as the sky. This is the nature of our mind. Who would want to strive to perfect a cloudless sky?

All of us want to be happy at all times. So why do our actions of body, speech and mind work often in contradiction to what we really want, bringing suffering in its wake?

The reason is simple; it’s because we allow them to. We could correct this; we can attempt to clear the clouds that obscure the beautiful sky.

What is holding us back from exploring the brilliance of the sky? The four faults, as enumerated below:
Too close: Have you ever tried to see your face without something that could reflect it? Not possible. Similarly, the nature of the mind is so close to our mind that it finds it difficult to see it.

Too profound: How often have you waded into unknown waters? You take a few steps and the fear of the unknown stops you. Similarly, we have no idea how deep the nature of mind would be. We cannot fathom its depth. So we don’t make an attempt.

Too easy: It is often that we have not attempted something simply because it was too easy. So it is with the nature of mind. Something that has always been with us, always perfect, gets a priority that is low amongst other worldly distractions and attractions.

Too wondrous:How many times have we left something untried because we see it as an immense task? We just don’t believe that we can actually attain enlightenment which is the essential nature of our minds.

The Tibetan word for ‘Buddhist’ is nangpa, which means insider’, that is, alluding to the fact that one has to learn of living and dying not from external sources but from knowing the nature of mind.

However, people fear to look within themselves, not knowing what they will find. Whether they will be able to face what they will find. They are afraid that they will be treated like social outcasts amongst friends, left alone to live life in solitude.

And this conceptualised, misplaced approach plays perfectly into the ploy of the wily ego that could have asked for nothing more than this. The answers you genuinely seek will come to you only from within, from the nature of your mind and not the nurtured mind.

Even if you get the most accomplished teacher, his only responsibility will be to guide you through unknown pathways with the help of teachings and practices, cutting through obscuration of a contrived mind and make you discover the true nature of your mind.

And in doing so, help you dispel the fears of sickness, old age and death and understand better the prospect of life, death and afterlife.
It needs endeavour. Let the winds of awakening blow away the clouds from the sky nature of your mind. Introduce yourself to the perfect sky that is your very own and has always been with you. This is the only happy way out from here! Buddhahood to you!

The writer is a Pune-based dharma practitioner.