Recently I have gathered my notes on Buddhist psychology, along with what I have tried my best to include in practice over the years. I see now that the main difference between my early introduction to these teachings and how I see them now has to do with the different qualities of mind we can have…

The way I first heard it, these teachings were almost mathematical, and in fact that was part of their appeal. They take what can seem an endlessly complex subject – this mind of ours – and give us something we can do, to begin to understand ourselves more deeply, and resolve our own suffering.

There is something elegant also about the illustration of different levels of mind, from the external moving within, that can of course be seen functioning collectively. Still, this leaves out some things that have become essential for me to include.

If we speak for example of Noble Beings, and their influence, or of the power of mantra, or prayer, or a mind imbued with love and compassion, it adds an element of color, or richness that is not immediately evident in teachings on different states or experiences. As useful as those maps are, as a reference point, these are also a vital part of human experience, and liberation.

We may have a thought, or memory surface from store consciousness to mind consciousness, or, we may be experiencing some dullness of mind, or difficult feeling in our body. If we believe that all mind is the same, and that our attention is either on what is happening, or it isn’t, then we have deprived ourselves and have much less to bring to these experiences.

A couple of examples

A mind that is gentle, and attentive, warm, and encouraging is able to meet what is difficult emotionally, or physically, and bring relief, patiently, tenderly, gradually;

This can be seen and felt when we smile to ourselves, or to another, and offer peace, and healing energy;

If a person has an affinity with a particular mantra, its qualities can be awakened by its recitation. With our mind resonating with this beautiful energy, whatever we touch with that quality will receive its benefit. This is something we can see and feel and know for ourselves.

{this is true whether it is the compassion mantra, a mantra expressing the divine feminine, a wisdom mantra, or one that brings purification}

If we know that the kind of mind we bring to a situation can make all the difference in terms of finding a resolution, I’m sure we will approach problems very differently.

A different quality of mind can then be likened to a key, that is able to open the locked door before us, and bring relief.

All the dynamics of cause and effect, the need to gather positive conditions, and the resources available in our world view still apply, but this points more directly to our role, of attuning ourselves in the process of transformation and healing.