EndlessArising
Member
The phenomena... "are experienced elements of existence."
Are these phenomena discrete ? Or is there one continuous phenomenon ?
Well, we have to be careful here. If we say they are discrete, then that means they are individually separate, which would suggest inherent existence. But since all phenomena are impermanent and not self-caused, they cannot be discrete. The same with being one continuous phenomenon. If all phenomena were actually one phenomenon, this would mean that there is some underlying self-caused essence. This goes against Buddhist logic. Well, maybe Buddhist logic is wrong then, but no such essence can be found through direct experience, so there's no reason to assume it exists.
Is your view that phenomena are themselves aware ? That these discrete phenomena experience themselves ? What is the scriptural description of these phenomena?
There is no awareness to be found outside of phenomena, and no phenomena to be found outside of awareness. I know it's counter-intuitive and perhaps paradoxical, but the Right View is a methodology to break conceptual views in order to directly experience non-conceptually.
Padmasambhava:
As for this sparkling awareness, which is called "mind,"
Even though one says that it exists, it does not actually exist.
(On the other hand) as a source, it is the origin of the diversity of all the bliss of Nirvana and all of the sorrow of Samsara.
He is saying without mind (existence) there can be no experience, yet when we look for mind, it cannot be found. Only through experience can we truly know mind.
There exist no phenomena other than what arises from the mind.
Other than the meditation that occurs, where is the one who is meditating?
There exist no phenomena other than what arises from the mind.
Other than the behavior that occurs, where is the one who is behaving?
There exist no phenomena other than what arises from the mind.
Other than the samaya vow that occurs, where is the one who is guarding it?
There exist no phenomena other than what arises from the mind.
Other than the fruition that occurs, where is the one who is realizing (the fruit)?
You should look at your own mind, observing it again and again.
Even though intrinsic awareness, which is self-originated primal awareness, appears to you, it is but a manifestation of mind.
Even though (the experience) of remaining in a state of one-pointed concentration without any discursive thoughts appears to you, it is but a manifestation of mind.
Even though the colors that are the characteristics of things appear to you, they are but manifestations of mind.
Even though a state without characteristics and without conceptual elaborations appears to you, it is but a manifestation of mind.
Even though the non-duality of the one and the many appears to you, it is but a manifestation of mind.
So you see clearly that mind (existence or awareness) is not denied at all. Yet if we were to look for mind as something truly existent, separate from phenomena, it cannot be found anywhere. Everything is mind, and yet there is no mind.