My dear friends,
Geshe Chekawa continues Point 2 of his Mind Training in Seven Points with the following precept:
Unborn awareness refers to the continuous, moment-to-moment awareness of phenomena as they arise in our consciousness. This awareness recognizes that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence and are dependent on causes and conditions. This means that nothing exists independently or permanently; everything arises, changes, and ceases based on a complex interplay of various factors, as we have seen before in our study of The Karmic Cycle shown above.
The Nature of Unborn Awareness
- Clarity: The nature of unborn awareness is clarity. Clarity here signifies freedom from obscurations or mental afflictions that cloud our perception. When our awareness is clear, it is like a mirror reflecting everything without distortion. This clear awareness sees things as they truly are, without the veils of ignorance, attachment, or aversion.
- Luminosity: This awareness is also luminous. Luminosity means that the mind becomes illuminated by the understanding of emptiness and dependent arising. The luminosity of unborn awareness is the light of wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance.
Unborn Awareness
The term "unborn" signifies that this awareness is not something we are innately born with in its fully developed form. Rather, its development requires dedicated effort through study and meditation.
- Study: Understanding the concepts of emptiness and dependent origination requires thorough study of Buddhist teachings. Through study, we gain intellectual understanding, which is the foundation upon which deeper realization is built.
- Meditation: Both samatha (calm abiding) and vipassana (insight)
meditation are essential for developing unborn awareness.
- Samatha: This practice cultivates a stable, focused, and calm mind. By achieving deep concentration, the mind becomes pliable and ready to engage in more profound practices.
- Vipassana: This practice involves insight meditation, where one investigates the true nature of phenomena. Vipassana helps practitioners realize emptiness and dependent arising directly, transforming intellectual understanding into experiential wisdom.
Integrating the Advice
Geshe Chekawa's advice encourages practitioners to continuously examine and cultivate this unborn awareness. By recognizing the empty and dependent nature of all phenomena, and by refining our understanding through study and meditation, we move closer to true realization. This path leads to liberation from suffering, as we align our perception with the ultimate reality of interdependence and emptiness.
"Examine the nature of unborn awareness" is a call to deeply engage with and realize the true nature of our mind and the phenomena it perceives. Through study and meditation, we cultivate an awareness that is free from the distortions of self-grasping ignorance (atmagraha-avidya), leading us towards enlightenment.