The Practice of Dzogchen by Rabjam Longchen

Author:Rabjam, Longchen [Rabjam, Longchen]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Published: 2002-11-25T02:00:00+00:00

THE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSAL GROUND AND THE EIGHT CONSCIOUSNESSES

83a/5The universal ground of various traces, the neutral state (with respect to virtues and non-virtues), is like a mirror. Of the consciousness of the universal ground (in the ’Jam-dPal Ye-Shes rGyan)SC Vol. I, 49a/3 it is said: “Mind (Sems) is the consciousness of the universal ground. Apprehending selfhood is thought (Yid).” It is like the aspect of clarity of a mirror. The five consciousnesses of entrances are like the arising of reflections (in a mirror). Arising first, the analysis of the preceding percept (Don) or raising of the (recognition of the) percept of the five sense-doors (as just) “this is this” is (thought or) mind-consciousness. Following it, the arising of hatred, attachment, or neutral emotions towards the objects is the defiled-mind-consciousness.

Some earlier masters have said that the six consciousnesses (i.e., mind and the five sense-faculties) do not accumulate karma if one does not analyze (the percepts) with defiled-mind-consciousness, because they are not composed of any of the three poisons. But this (observation) needs to be examined. While one is pursuing (the path of) view, meditation, and conduct, after the realization of the (ultimate) nature of phenomenal existents, there will be such a state (of not producing any karma), but people whose minds have not yet reached such a level have ignorance and they produce evil karmas.

The means of producing karma are the faculty of mind and the five faculties of the sense-entrances with their bases. The producers of karma are the defiled mind, the virtuous mind, and the mind that is neutral (in respect to virtues and non-virtues). The basis on which the karmas are being accumulated is the universal ground (of neutral state). The consciousness of universal ground provides the space for the developing, maintaining, decline, and so forth, of karma. In the great commentary on the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra by Ācārya Sthiramati it is said:The mind and the five faculties, such as that of the eyes, are the entrance, the doors of karma. The virtuous, non-virtuous, and neutral minds are the producers of karmas. The six percepts, such as form, are the objects of karma. The consciousness of the universal ground provides the space for (producing karmas). The universal ground is the basis, like the place and the house (where and in which the karmas are stored).

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