The mind of beings is inherently impermanent and constantly shifting. If you look back across the vast expanse of your accumulated lifetimes, you might wonder how many different states of mind have been stored within your . There are immeasurable and boundless thoughts that have arisen and faded away, yet you must ask yourself: which of these is truly your own?
You are also one of these beings, and therefore, the mind of all beings is, in essence, your own mind. Unless you see your true nature, which is the true self that no one can replace, you are merely drifting through these transient states. Once you realise your true self-nature, however, you will find a reality that no other force can replace or diminish.
The Unchanging Reality of the True Self
Regardless of how much time passes, even if the stars and constellations change, or if the entire galaxy and the void itself were to crumble and be reborn, your true self-nature remains forever unchanged. It is completely unmoved, standing firm in its state of being unmoved. This, and only this, is your true self.
If you have not yet seen your true nature, the mind you possess in this life is merely the mind of a being. In your next life, it will be different again. Perhaps speaking of future lives feels too distant, so let us examine the nature of your mind in this very life. It fluctuates wildly:
At times, it is the ignorant mind of an animal.
At times, it is the malicious mind that creates the causes for the hells.
At times, it is the selfish mind of the human world.
At times, it is the charitable mind of celestial beings.
At times, it is the angry, vengeful mind of an asura.
At times, it is the stubborn, powerful mind of a demon.
At times, it is a mind governed by the seven emotions and the .
At times, it is a mind where the Six Roots are stained by the .
At times, it desires to continue spinning in the cycle of rebirth, and at other times, it yearns for the of Ultimate Bliss.
This mind is truly unstable and ever-changing. How can the myriad sufferings born from such a mind ever come to an end?
The Interconnectedness of All Beings
Consider the states of mind you have inhabited in the past. The high mountains, the flowing rivers, the vast oceans, the earth itself, the flowers, the grasses, and the towering trees—all of these have, at one time or another, been your mind. The insects that fly and crawl, the beings in this world and in distant realms, the dust in the air, the sand and stones, the creatures of the sea, the livestock, the wild beasts, and the countless other forms of life—all these immeasurable minds of beings have once been your own mind.
My dear friends, all of these are merely minds you have held in the past. When you look around you today, everything you see, everything you consume, everything you use, and everything you know—and even that which you have not yet encountered—is part of this vast web. The people around you, including the fourfold assembly, may well have been your parents, teachers, or in past lives, or perhaps they were your benefactors and true spiritual friend.
Transforming the Mind to Find Liberation
The mind of beings is boundless, and you are within it. Because your mind is the mind of all beings, and the mind of all beings is your mind, you and all other beings are one entity. How, then, can there be a distinction between self and other? How can there be any room for selfishness that might harm another? To harm another is to harm yourself; to assist another is to assist yourself; to save another is to save yourself.
My dear friends, the mind of beings is a mind of suffering, a mind of , and a mind of impurity. To transform this suffering into happiness, to transform this karmic mind into a state of emptiness, and to transform this impure mind into a pure mind, you must engage in diligent practice. You must strive to transform the mind of beings and finally see your true nature. .
