Advice for those on the higher path

Our ordinary thoughts are configurations of pure Mind, the absolute substance.  It is extremely difficult to see this substance.  What we see, instead, is pure Mind become.  In this condition, Mind is  hiding in its own constructs unaware of itself.  Compounding the problem, this pristine substance has fallen in love with its self-generated illusions.  By doing so, it has unwittingly thrown itself into samsara from which escape is almost impossible.  

Given that the entire triple world is Mind become, nevertheless, in one moment, if we are lucky and our practice has been in keeping with trying to see pure Mind, we might catch a glimpse of it.  This embryonic glimpse, if we are wise enough to grasp a few of its cardinal implications (and their are many), reveals that the entire triple world is only Mind (cittamatra).  We actually behold and experience it this way for the first time (it doesn't last long because of the habit-inertia (vasana) of our addiction to the illusory world).  In addition, but less apparent, we discover that samsara is Mind bewitched by its very own constructions and concepts (dharma) which also include delusion (moha), desire, and hatred (the three poisons). 

Until we awaken to absolute or pure Mind which, incidentally, is an event like no other, our understanding of Buddhism, consisting of concepts, is the only path we have—and this path has no guarantees.  

In addition, chanting the name of Amitâbha Buddha; chanting the title of the Lotus Stura in Japanese or just sitting (zazen, shikantaza) have the form of error (bhrânti).  At the apex of ordinary mind's direct intuition of its pure nature whereby it beholds pure Mind, no practice can enter.  Such practices are like fire.  One fire could be of agarwood, the other of sandalwood, or still another a fire from juniper.  But all these fires burn if touched no matter their fragrance.  Likewise, when we attempt to draw closer to practices like zazen they eventually burn us.  All boiled down, they are a confusion of mind.

For the ordinary mind to awaken to pure Mind, it requires a path that makes this realization possible; not a path that leads it astray.  Before such a higher path can be taken, we must jettison all of our views about the true nature of reality.  This includes all  views about Buddhism.  It even includes jettisoning the belief that science offers us the only means to true knowledge.  No one can enter the higher path laden with their own concepts of what true reality is.  We have to keep in mind that a Buddha is the destroyer of the triple world including our concepts.

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