Chapter 9 Part I Taoism, Esoteric Buddhism and Eastern Mysticism-9

Revisiting "Secret" "Yi Mi" is the unique name of Tantric Buddhism. Whether it is "Dong Mi" or "Tibetan Mi", it is the main factor that it is listed as one of the three secrets.The connotation of this name, does it mean that people's thoughts have the supreme mysterious power?Or does it mean that Tantric practice of using consciousness for visualization has another secret reason?From the general habit of studying Tantric Buddhism, if you mention the meaning secret, you will naturally have a mysterious and respectful psychology, and you dare not touch it or think about it.It is believed that doing "visualization" according to the teachings of the masters is the principle of "mind secret".As for the nature of ideas, does it have mysterious functions?Or there is another secret meaning and it is called "meaning secret"?Don't worry about it, just follow the traditional habits of Tantric Buddhism, and don't dare to study too much.Now, in order to introduce the subtle relationship between Esoteric Buddhism and Western mysticism, and because of the different cultural concepts of the times, it is necessary to analyze the true connotation and meaning of "Mind Secret", so we have to change the appearance, start with the understanding of "idea" in general secular knowledge, and then Explore the Buddhist connotation of Tantra.In this way, it is not only easy to understand the principle of "Mind Secret", but it may also be of practical help to those who study Tantra.

Consciousness closely related to modern psychology The names of consciousness, idea, idea, thought, thinking, inspiration, soul, sixth sense, etc. should have their own definitions in terms of the classification method of modern scientific concepts and the logical concept of determining the connotation of nouns. Each has its own scope.From the standpoint of ordinary general psychology, all these terms, taken together, are different concepts of psychic action, which are all functions of the main psychic action.We all know that from the perspective of modern mechanical psychology, and materialistic thought—physiology and medicine based on the experimental results of matter and physics, the perception and thinking function of the body’s senses responding to external things is called consciousness.But from the point of view of modern mechanical psychology, the conscious state produced by this kind of psychology is composed of mechanical reaction habits. If it is separated from the reaction function of physiological feeling, there is no one that transcends physiology and transcends the function of traits. consciousness and spirit.As far as the term "spirit" itself is concerned, it is only an abstract name of physiological functions, and it is named after the sum of nerves and endocrine, etc.This is the understanding and definition of consciousness in modern science, including the comprehensive concepts of psychology, physiology, medicine, psychiatry, etc. It can be said that they are all biased towards the line of materialism.Maybe tomorrow's scientific discoveries will make progress and not stop there, but that's another matter.Because of these theoretical concepts as the basis, in contrast to beliefs about religion and occultism, they can be said to be psychopaths, or psychopaths, and naturally they are not taken seriously.Even thinking that idealism in philosophy is just a different concept of psychological function has no real evidence at all.Until now, the world has been eloquent, and the general scientific standpoint, whether it is humanities or natural sciences, is generally inclined to this kind of thinking and theory.Only those who believe in religion and mysticism stick to the rules and stick to one corner without change.

In addition, a discipline that is emerging in the undercurrent of world science—psychology, its basic belief is absolutely beyond materialism.However, the theories and beliefs about the existence of the soul are trying to use many scientific methods to prove it, but they are not completely certain.And the existence of the soul, what does it have to do with consciousness?At present, general soul scholars have not paid attention to this.Therefore, the study of spirituality, in the modern scientific concept, is still a peripheral science of science just like mysticism, and has not been accepted by purely scientific research.

Since we are now involved in the understanding of modern psychology from the beginning of esoteric Buddhism, we must first introduce the basic concepts of Buddhist psychology on which Tantric Buddhism is based.Regardless of Eastern Tantric and Tibetan Tantric, its basic theoretical basis is the Consciousness-only Buddhism of late Indian Buddhism.Therefore, in the past, the strict regulations for studying Tantra in Tibet required that one must spend more than ten years studying and mastering all the teachings of Mahayana and Mahayana before formally practicing Tantra. Some people think that Buddhism's consciousness-only theory is the real Buddhist psychology, but I really disagree with this idea.Because although consciousness-only learning starts from psychological experience, its ultimate theory is to cover the unity of body and mind through people's psychological status quo, and enter the metaphysical ontology of the unity of mind and matter.It is quite different from the psychology that has been developed up to the modern age, and it must not be confused with it.From the point of view of Consciousness Only, modern psychology can only understand the positive and negative functions of the "sixth consciousness". The "Eight Consciousnesses", that is, the "Alaya Consciousness" based on the spiritual world and the material world, are by no means understood by modern psychology.

Consciousness Based on Consciousness-Only Theology The so-called consciousness in Consciousness-Only School, according to the explanation of the general traditional concept, it has the function of "recognition".In fact, this is just a comment on the noun.If you truly understand all the principles of Consciousness-Only, the reason why it is called "Consciousness" is different from the general concept of "idealism".Because of its basic function, it has the distinguishing function of creating "consciousness"; at the same time, it has the function of tactile sensation with material, which constitutes the feeling of psychological state, and the function of generating rough and floating thoughts, and quiet and quiet thinking.

Therefore, it points out that the so-called physical sense organs, such as eyes, ears, nose, tongue and the whole body, each have their own functions of recognizing external reactions and contacts, and they are called the "first five senses".It can also be said that when the physical senses themselves have not cooperated with the "sixth consciousness" to function, the "first five consciousnesses" themselves have the function of reflecting things.It is the forerunner of the separation of artificial "consciousness", and it also has the associated function of feeling.For example, when a person encounters a special encounter and concentrates on his mind, although his eyes face the things and his ears hear the surrounding sounds, he will not immediately trigger the psychological "consciousness" as usual due to the reaction of sound and color. Thinking works separately.Although he was responsive to the sensuality of the reality at the time, but because he was absent-minded, he did not immediately cooperate with the "consciousness" as usual, and thought differently about the situation, causing various emotional changes.Therefore, it can also be understood that when a person just dies, the function of "consciousness" is lost, and a certain part of the physiological function is transplanted, and the life function of continuing resurrection is still there. This is the reason.

The "first five consciousnesses" are the forerunners of the "sixth consciousness". For example, when using soldiers, "consciousness" is the commander with full authority, and the "first five consciousnesses" are like the outposts of different arms. The main task of the "sixth consciousness" is to communicate with the "first five consciousnesses" before connecting with the "seventh consciousness" and "eighth consciousness".All the divisions of thinking and emotions are governed by it.It is also equivalent to the general manager of a modern company organization. It accepts the decisions of the board of directors (eighth sense) and executive director (seventh sense) at the top, and guides and urges the "first five senses" to achieve various businesses.At the beginning of a baby's womb and when it is born as a baby, although the function of the "sixth consciousness" exists, it does not grow and take effect.After reaching adulthood, "consciousness" is gradually formed under the influence of the "first five consciousnesses", and it becomes stronger and stronger as it gets older, forming a force that fixes the psychological form - "karma".

When the "sixth consciousness" is awake, it acts on behalf of the powers of the "eighth consciousness" and "seventh consciousness" to distinguish thinking and so on.When entering sleep, it initiates the potential function opposite to "consciousness". It does not need the on-site work of the "first five senses", but only relies on the original data collected by the "first five senses" to generate the potential function of "independence".Therefore, Consciousness-Only Studies named this potential function of the "sixth consciousness" as "single shadow consciousness", also known as "single head consciousness".The function of this "solitary shadow consciousness" can be separated from the "first five senses" and act independently.The most significant range of its activities can be summed up in three situations: (1) When dreaming. (2) Neuropathy, psychosis, or even falling into a coma due to other diseases. (3) When there is a certain state in meditation.Therefore, from the standpoint of Consciousness-Only Studies, the "subconscious mind", also known as "subconscious mind", and "sixth sense", as understood by modern psychology, is only aware of the role of "solitary shadow consciousness".

But the "sixth consciousness", it is not the real master, it is just an accountant of living people.Its background boss is the "seventh consciousness".The translated name in Consciousness-Only Studies is called "Mana Consciousness".This term has many meanings, so I won't explain it here. It is not too inappropriate for ordinary people to call it "self-attachment" or "embodied self-attachment".It is the root of the "sixth consciousness", and it can also be said to be the source of the real "consciousness".For example, a person's natural personality (endowment characteristics), as well as inexplicable habits, thoughts, geniuses, etc. inherent in life, are its functions.It is neither purely "psychological" nor purely "physiological". It is closely related to the nature of the body and mind.Therefore, it can be seen that when a certain person is awake, in terms of "consciousness" and rationality, he knows that his "personality" is too bad or bad, and if he wants to change himself immediately, it is often impossible and fails.This "seventh consciousness" as the root of "consciousness" is the reason why people are "I" and the real "meaning" root of "I". The so-called "karma" of life in Buddhism is derived from it. And show its significant effect.

However, the "seventh consciousness" is still a rooted branch, such as a clump of vines, which is just a rooted branch of the original bush.Its real protagonist is the "eighth consciousness". Consciousness-only theory calls it "Alaya consciousness".In short, it is a unity of mind and matter, and a book of the same root of the universe.It is the same source where the spiritual world mixes with the physical world.Everything in the universe is born from this, and it also perishes and returns to it.It is an endless warehouse of "birth and death" and "birth and death".