18 Relaxing False Appearances of Mind's Natural Functions

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Dispelling Insecurity through Deconstruction

To dispel the problems of insecurity that our confusion and its instincts create regarding mind's natural functions, we need to identify the triplistic appearances that fuel these problems. Recognizing the absurdity of our fantasies, we then need to deconstruct these deceptive appearances. Methods such as seeing experiences as waves on the ocean help with the process.

Clear light mental activity is like an ocean. Its natural functions, such as producing verbal expression, are also activities. They naturally arise like waves or swells in mid-ocean. Circumstances, motivation, and an intention – for instance, seeing the flight attendant coming down the aisle, wanting something more to drink, and deciding to ask – affect when waves of certain activities arise and what form they take. Nevertheless, the waves repeatedly arise as characteristic features of everyone's clear light mind.

When the impulse that brings on the wave of an action is a karmic one, mixed with confusion, our mental activity projects a triplistic appearance onto the wave and the winds of our karma churn the energy. Consequently, one side of the wave seems to be a concrete agent, the other side seems to be a concrete object, and the wave itself appears to be a concrete action. Our mind becomes agitated and we experience the naturally arising wave as monstrous. This alarming experience throws us off balance: we become self-conscious and nervous. Indicative of insecurity, these two unsettling feelings drive us to grasp at, fear, or try to drown ourselves in being the seemingly concrete agent or object of the seemingly concrete activity. For example, inflating the orange juice, ourselves, and the act of asking for some into monumental objects, we feel too shy to ask for anything. We suffer greatly.

When we stop projecting triplistic appearances onto the waves, or we at least stop believing in these deceptive appearances, the winds of our karma automatically die down. Waves of clear light activity still naturally arise, but they no longer seem monstrous. The problem is not with the waves. Waves consist merely of water and do not disturb the depths of the ocean. The problem lies with the triplistic appearances that our mind unconsciously projects onto them. Experiences, such as asking the flight attendant for something to drink, are not disturbing in themselves. They disturb us only when we mix them with confusion.

To deconstruct our disturbing experiences correctly, we need to understand that we do exist. We do not exist, however, as a concrete "me" in our head that we need to make secure. We do not need to prove, justify, or defend our existence. Nor do we need to drown it in something. The vain attempt to do so just brings us battering from the waves of our disturbing experiences. Further, we need to divest words, deeds, and so on of the unrealistic power we imagine that they have to grant us security if we express or avoid them.

The deconstruction process does not leave us with sterile relations with others or with ourselves. What remains is the automatic functioning of mental activity's seven facets. No longer on an endless quest for elusive security, we can act, speak, experience sensory and mental objects, love, be energetic, be quiet, and enjoy life with balanced sensitivity.

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