B. Alan Wallace, 17 Jun 2019
Lama Alan begins by explaining the concepts of the substrate (Skt. ālaya, Tib. kun gzhi) and substrate consciousness (Skt. ālayavijñāna, Tib. kun gzhi rnam par shes pa). He then relates them to the practice of observing the mind and lists all the kinds of phenomena that arise within the space of the mind, both objective and subjective.
He also comments on emotions and their somatic correlates, and on the importance of being aware of emotions before expressing them (whether to express them, when to express them and how to express them). Otherwise we’re just acting out of habit and don’t have real choices.
After the meditation Lama talks about overcoming our worst nightmares by becoming lucid in the midst of them and jump right into what we most dread. In the same way this practice can help us become thoroughly lucid with respect to our minds in the waking state.
We then go back to “The Path of Shamatha”.
First we review the last two bullet items on each stage (the quality of the experience and the quality of the flow of involuntary thoughts).
Then we move forward with the text and cover:
Meditation
Shamatha: Settling the mind in its natural state, focusing on the subjective impulses.
Meditation starts at 28:29
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