My dear friends,

The fourth precept in Atiśa's "The Best" is:

We can understand this precept by referring back to two lojong commentaries that we have already studied.

The Essence of the Path

This commentary emphasized the integration of aspirational and ultimate Bodhicitta, highlighting the interplay between compassion and wisdom. Constant observation of the mind becomes essential in this context because it allows one to maintain awareness of both the aspiration to benefit all beings (aspirational bodhicitta) and the direct realization of emptiness (ultimate bodhicitta).

Aspirational Bodhicitta

Constantly observing the mind helps to identify and nurture the seeds of compassion. It ensures that one's intentions remain pure and untainted by self-interest or ego, aligning with the understanding that such aspirations are not inherently existent but arise dependently. This observation is necessary to continuously renew and deepen the commitment to the path of a Bodhisattva.

Ultimate Bodhicitta

Through the steady observation of the mind, one can cultivate the direct realization of emptiness, cutting through dualistic perceptions. By observing thoughts, emotions, and phenomena as they arise and dissolve, a practitioner can see their lack of inherent existence. This insight helps dissolve attachments and aversions, leading to equanimity and profound compassion. Observation becomes the means to embody the wisdom of emptiness, which is crucial for liberation from suffering.

Integration

The commentary advises integrating both types of bodhicitta through meditation on emptiness and the cultivation of compassion. Constantly observing the mind allows one to harmonize these practices, ensuring that compassionate actions are informed by wisdom and that wisdom is continually motivated by love.

Observe Your Mind

This commentary presented a practical approach to observing the mind, particularly when dealing with afflictive emotions (kleshas). It references a gentle, skillful method as described by Gelek Rimpoche, and aligns it with teachings from the lojong tradition as well as Christian scripture.

Mindful Engagement with Afflictive Emotions

Rather than forcefully rejecting emotions such as anger or jealousy, the commentary suggests inviting them in, acknowledging them with kindness, and then letting them go. This practice requires the constant observation of the mind, where one does not suppress but gently examines and analyzes the emotions. By engaging with them mindfully, one gains insight into their causes and recognizes their impermanent, empty nature. This process transforms afflictive states into opportunities for growth and wisdom.

Examination and Analysis

The commentary introduces the dual processes of examination (gently acknowledging the emotion) and analysis (understanding its causes and seeing its emptiness). This approach is a direct application of constant mindfulness. By being vigilant over the mind's movements, one can catch delusions as they arise, engage with them wisely, and eventually dissolve their power. This aligns with the lojong teachings of Geshe Chekawa, who advocated using bodhicitta as the antidote to afflictive states.

Overcoming Evil with Good

The scriptural advice from Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good," complements the Buddhist approach. Rather than battling with negative thoughts and emotions (which often strengthens them), the precept encourages countering them with virtues like patience and kindness. Constant observation allows a practitioner to respond to negative states with the appropriate virtues, transforming potential obstacles into sources of strength.

Synthesis of the Two Commentaries

In both commentaries, the core message is that the constant observation of the mind is not just about passive awareness but an active, skillful engagement with the mind’s contents. This vigilance allows practitioners to:

• Nurture Pure Intentions: By observing the arising and subsiding of thoughts, one can ensure that their motivations remain aligned with the bodhisattva ideal, free from ego and attachment.
• Transform Afflictions into Wisdom: By skillfully engaging with afflictive emotions, understanding their causes, and seeing their emptiness, one can transform them into opportunities for insight. This aligns with the practice of applying the antidote of bodhicitta and responding with compassion rather than resistance.
• Integrate Wisdom and Compassion: Constant mindfulness facilitates the integration of aspirational and ultimate bodhicitta, as seen in The Essence of the Path. It ensures that compassionate actions are informed by the wisdom of emptiness, and that wisdom remains motivated by love and the intention to benefit all beings.

Thus, the instruction to "constantly observe your mind" serves as the foundation for both personal transformation and the Bodhisattva's engagement with the world. It is through this ceaseless observation that one can cultivate both the aspiration and the realization necessary for the path, transforming both internal delusions and external challenges into catalysts for deeper wisdom and compassion.