The Effects of Purification

buddpuriwat

ii. 33-45 Positive Exchange of the Mind-stuff

2.33 Destructive negative thoughts can be deterred through positive reinforcement.

When the alaya-vijñana overflows with negative regularity, positive imprints from the Amala-recepticle (Pure-Thought Realm of the Tathagatas) can make for Right Cultivation of Mind. This Tathatic-Exchange ought to be managed on a consistent basis thereby eradicating the automatic-flow of the negative mind-stuff from the Alaya-vijñana. This is uniquely a Lankavatarian formulation and can be quite effective, provided of course that the yogin perpetually stands out of the way and allows *Wu-hsin * (No-Mind) to spontaneously counter-act the negative influence.  This was highlighted in an earlier blog from the Platform-Sutra series:

“No-thought” in these passages is also rendered as “no-mind”, or Wu-hsin. This Principle is widely used by Hui-neng and essentially breaks-down as nothing calculated, but simply allowing Mind Itself to spontaneously meet, in non-formal fashion, what is required in a given moment. Hui-neng also includes, Non-form/ formlessness=Mind’s Essential Substance; It abides in no-thing as Its basis. Hui-neng drives home here the point that abiding in Mind-Only bests abiding in no-thing (sensate phenomena, including all thought-formulations) Hence, being un-fettered means to break the successive patterns of thought-obstructions by remaining “prior-to” them through spontaneous non-abiding via the principle of Wu-hsin that nullifies all impermanent phenomena through the exchange of the permanent Nirvanic-Element of Truth That is always ready to respond in appropriate and vivifying ways. Another way of looking at this is that one no longer has any relationship with the external, forever changing, environment; rather, one faithfully and spontaneously abides in the Nature of True Reality (Dharmadhatu), always prior-to and in union with the Pure Mind of Unborn Permanence. In Recollecting this Principle, says Hui-neng, whatever thought vexations appear will make no difference as you no longer abide in them (no-thing), but rather apperceive them through the Unifying-lens of the Nirvanic Mind.

2.34 Negative imprints from the Alaya-vijñana yield’s bitter fruit: anger, frustration, delusion, even violence. Whether one acts upon them within oneself or recklessly condones them in others, the result is always the same—endless avidya and ceaseless dukkha. One must always remember to cultivate the opposite.

As was formulated with the previous commentary, one must ceaselessly generate Wu-hsin to counter-act the effects of yu-hsin—or those negative impressions from the Alaya-mind receptacle. Regular practice with the Black-Dragon Eye Mandala is a marvelous tool to generate this principle, as Tozen writes:

“The more your mind is focused and abiding in the center of the mandala, thus perceiving the world through its singular unborn-ness, the less the external world or the internal various emotions or thoughts will affect you or get you off balance.” 

2.35 When one radiates non-violence, all hostility vanishes. 

Persistent vigilance in the Recollective Resolve fosters a non-violent sensibility as one is always yoked with the Unborn.

2.36 When one is yoked with the Dharmadhatu (The Truth-Realm) all one’s thoughts and actions are grounded in Truthfulness.

Indeed, as Jaganath Carrea wonderfully states:

The yogi achieves unity with truth. There can be no question of uttering anything not meant to be. Whatever she says is the truth. Her thoughts, like feathers blown by the breeze, are easily moved by every whisper of the Divine Will.

[Carrera, Jaganath (2012-06-22). Inside The Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study and Practice of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (p. 145). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.]

2.37 Integrity of Spirit spawns boundless Bodhi-Pearls

Living as a child of the Unborn one is showered with unfathomable Bodhi that emanates from the very heart of the Sugata.

2.38 The Chaste Spirit yields a bountiful harvest ten-thousand fold.

No longer fixated on the sordid affairs of samsara one’s energies are totally devoted to the Primordial Unborn Spirit; when so yoked the spiritual harvest is bountiful indeed!

2.39 When non-attached in such a fashion, one develops the insight into past lives.

Non-attachment, as John of the Cross so poetically put it, “Leaving one’s cares forgotten among the lilies”, puts one in good company with Shakamuni Buddha as he sat beneath that mystical bodhi-tree and recollected all of his past lives. All of one’s former karmic afflictions and associations and attachments pass before the Mind’s-Eye as one brief moment of passing fancy, like a care-free breeze, across the imageless plane of Bhutatathata (Absolute Suchness).

2.40 When this Purification from carnality is stabilized, one develops a disinclination to pursue [Form]al relationships.

This does not entail becoming anti-social by any stretch of the imagination. But it does indicate severing any formal-ties that tend to become toxic to one’s psychophysical system—like societal overemphasizing to the point of compulsion on all things sexual. Simply put, Patañjali is saying that one’s heart should be in the Spiritual-Self and not the body. The body needs to be subservient to the Spirit and not vice-versa.

2.41 Purification assures a quiescent spirit, mastery over sensate-phenomena, direct one-pointedness of mind, and ability to recognize Self-realization.

Reminiscent of the old [paraphrased] scripture adage, “Blessed are the Pure in Spirit, for they shall behold the Imageless Absolute.” This is the build-up to having that Supreme Cultivation of Mind wherein all former vexations have been superseded in favor of Direct One-Pointedness of Mind that only savors the Self-realization of Noble Wisdom.

2.42 Through Direct Self-Recognition, the Yogin gains the Ultimate Bliss in the Unborn.

Reminiscent of another [paraphrased] scriptural adage, “What profit does one have from gaining the whole samsaric-world while forfeiting one’s Essential Selfhood?”

2.43 Perfection of both body and spirit comes through Ascetic Discipline.

By now one can discern that Patañjali keeps weaving together (repetitious, but looked at from different angles) all of these proper observances in order to perfect Right Spiritual Discipline. Remember to affect a Temperate-Spirit above all, thus assuring the Assumption of both body & spirit from the Wheel of Samsara.

2.44 Through Right Study one Yokes with the Lord of Yoga.

Astute and faithful study of the Buddhadharma will assure Right Union with the Primordial Unborn Spirit.

2.45 Total and Unequivocal Absorption by the Primordial Unborn Spirit will assure consummation in Deep Samadhis.

Indeed, in surrendering one’s own will to the Unborn Will shall in time lead to that consummating Union (the yoking of spirit with the Self-Supreme) that can occur only in Deep Samadhis [Deep looking upon Deep].

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