The Dalai Lama - The Ultimate Nature of the Mind

THE BUDDHISM OF TIBET
by the Dalai Lama
translated and edited by
Jeffrey Hopkins
with Anne Klein
more...

Dalai Lama Quote of the Week

...not only is the ultimate nature of the mind unpolluted by contaminations, but also the conventional nature of the mind, that is, its mere clear knowing, is unpolluted by contaminations as well. Therefore, the mind can become either better or worse, and it is suitable to be transformed. However, no matter how much one cultivates the bad consciousnesses that provide a support for the conception of inherent existence, they cannot be cultivated limitlessly.* Cultivation of the good consciousnesses, on the other hand, which are opposite to those and which have the support of valid cognition, can be increased limitlessly. On the basis of this reason, we can ascertain that the stains on the mind can be removed.

Thus, the final nature of a mind that has removed its stains so that they will never be generated again is liberation. Therefore, we can become certain that liberation is attainable. Not only that, but just as the contaminations of the afflictions are removable, so are their predispositions as well. Therefore, we can be certain that the final nature of the mind with all the contaminations of the afflictions and their predispositions removed is attainable. This is called a non-abiding nirvana or a Body of Truth. Thereby it is generally established that liberation and omniscience exist.

--from The Buddhism of Tibet by the Dalai Lama, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, with Anne Klein, published by Snow Lion Publications

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* For a further explanation of this point, see the Archive of Quotes by the Dalai Lama. Either search for "based on ignorance" or scroll down to the November 4 (2005) quote.

Tags: The Dalai Lama, The Ultimate Nature of the Mind, Buddhism, mind, The Buddhism of Tibet, Jeffrey Hopkins, Anne Klein, Snow Lion Publications