Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. Rinpoche describes how to understand our relationship to our mind, and what supports our well being. There are two sides to the mind: thoughts and emotions. Thoughts are made up of our perceptions and the labels we put on them. We will always remain vague about what holds us back and what supports us to move forward, until we learn how to self-recognize our experiences. In order to remove vagueness and establish clarity we must “bring everything out onto the table”. We then begin to develop a certain intelligence and sophistication of mind which sees the relative truth of what arises, as well as the absolute truth, which is beyond dualism. Holding relative and absolute simultaneously and inseparably, not abandoning one and accepting another, is the mark of a truly mature mind. The second side of mind – emotions – is crucial to understand as well. Emotions are nothing more than a façade. When the façade is exposed to all aspects of mind, things become free and open. Nothing gets stuck. Emotions are free to arise and cease. They are part of a bigger awareness that sees everything clearly but does not get caught in believing that things are intrinsically good or bad. It takes focus, discipline and stillness to observe our own mind. This is how we will gain true maturity and intelligence. With this special kind of intelligence – based not on thoughts but direct observation of the mind – there will never be an agony that cannot be overcome.

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