Insight 9: Looking at the Calm Mind and the Moving Mind Together

Verse 17

When one looks again and again at the mind that is not a thing to be seen,
And sees vividly for what it is the meaning of not seeing,
Doubts about the meaning of “is” and “isn’t” are erased.
Without confusion, may my own face know itself.

Instructions

Allow the quiet time in the recording to support your practice.

Meditation

  • Allow the mind to rest and notice the calm mind. 
  • Turn your mind to thoughts forming and dissolving, the moving mind. 
  • Refrain from engaging in the content of a thought.
  • Allow a thought to form, does it affect the calm mind? 
  • If you see that a thought affects the calm mind, does that mean the calm mind and moving mind are different? 
  • Look to see if they are different. 
  • If you find they are not different, are the calm mind and moving mind the same? 
  • Look at the calm mind and moving mind to see if they are the same. 
  • Looking at calm mind and moving mind, can you remove one from the other; calm mind from moving mind or moving mind from calm mind? 
  • Are they separate, or are they inseparable?
  • Do the calm mind and moving mind have a knowing quality to them in the sense that you can recognize them, but you cannot make any determination about them? 
  • Rest in the knowing of calm mind and moving mind. 
  • Turn your mind to the spaciousness or stillness of the mind. 
  • Turn your mind to the thoughts remaining free of engaging with them. 
  • Rest the mind remaining aware of both the stillness of mind and the thoughts. 
  • Let the mind rest. 

After Meditation

  • Can you see that by alternating your attention from still mind to moving mind, they are simultaneously present?
  • Were you able to rest your mind with both? Or did your attention favor one over the other? 
  • Were you able to recognize calm mind and moving mind inseparable? 
  • If so, you have reached the ability to recognize the nature of mind even if it is for a brief moment.

During the Day

Several times a day take brief moments to recognize calm mind and moving mind inseparable. What happens? 
In those moments, is there a perceptible shift in your relationship with your life?