My dear friends,

In his Mind Training in Seven Points, after advising us to "Examine the nature of unborn awareness," Geshe Chekawa continues with the following precept:

"The remedy itself" is that very same "unborn awareness" whose nature we have just examined: the continuous, moment-to-moment awareness of phenomena as they arise in our consciousness – that awareness which recognizes that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence and are dependent on causes and conditions – a wisdom that cuts through the root of all suffering, which is the mistaken belief in an inherently existent self and phenomena.

The phrase "in its own place" suggests that the remedy does not need to be sought outside of our current experience or situation. It implies that the solution to our suffering is inherently present within the very conditions that give rise to our afflictions. In other words, the wisdom realizing emptiness or the awareness of the true nature of our mind and experiences is already there, within the fabric of our own awareness.

How It Is Released

The release of the remedy "in its own place" means recognizing and resting in the natural state of awareness, free from conceptual elaborations. This involves a direct, experiential recognition of the empty, luminous nature of the mind itself. When negative emotions and afflictions arise, instead of reacting to them with aversion or attachment, we examine their nature and see their emptiness. By doing so, the afflictions dissolve on their own, as their power is rooted in our misunderstanding of their true nature.

Application on the Bodhisattva Path

This advice is profoundly beneficial for advancing on the Bodhisattva path in several ways:

1. Cultivating Wisdom: By training to see the empty nature of afflictions and phenomena, we develop the wisdom aspect of the Bodhisattva path, which is essential for achieving enlightenment.
2. Enhancing Compassion: Understanding the empty nature of suffering helps us cultivate greater compassion. We see that beings are ensnared by illusions and, out of compassion, we are motivated to help them realize the same liberating insight.
3. Maintaining Equanimity: Recognizing the empty nature of afflictions helps us maintain equanimity. We become less likely to be swayed by emotional turmoil, which allows us to act with greater stability and clarity for the benefit of others.
4. Empowering Practice: This teaching empowers our practice by reminding us that the tools for liberation are always within our reach. We do not need to look elsewhere for the remedy; it is already present in our own mindstream.

In summary, "The remedy itself is released in its own place" invites us to recognize the innate wisdom within our own minds and to use this recognition to transform our afflictions into the path of awakening. This practice deepens our understanding and enhances our ability to benefit all beings, which is the heart of the Bodhisattva path.