What is mind?

[Kenshou]

Being aware of a spacious quality of mind is nothing more than just that, really. Mental consciousness, awareness of a mental phenomena. When your thoughts clear out a bit in taking some time to look back at your mind you perceive it as "spacious". Sometimes the mind feels light and open, but sometimes it doesn't. When you get up off the floor to do something else, or get distracted, your mental contents and the corresponding consciousness will be different. The "mind" is all of that stuff, a flowing process, trying to decide upon one discreet thing which is The Mind is probably just going to be a tail-chasing experience.

[m0rl0ck]

Watching this is a method unto itself that cuts across traditions and schools.
i.e. http://enjoyabetterworld.com/on-mind-wa ... patriarch/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think theravadan buddhism has an equivalent practice, or at least that the forest tradition does, because thats what their practice seems to be about from the things i have read. My experience with the phenomenon, if we are talking about the same thing, is that once you know its there it pretty much steals the show, all other methods seem to devolve to looking at where the method is coming from and who is doing it.

[bodom]

Watching this is a method unto itself that cuts across traditions and schools.
i.e. http://enjoyabetterworld.com/on-mind-wa ... patriarch/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think theravadan buddhism has an equivalent practice, or at least that the forest tradition does, because thats what their practice seems to be about from the things i have read. My experience with the phenomenon, if we are talking about the same thing, is that once you know its there it pretty much steals the show, all other methods seem to devolve to looking at where the method is coming from and who is doing it.

I have always been amazed at the similarties between Ajahn Dune Atulo's and Bodhidharmas teachings:

22. Frugal with his words

A large group of Dhamma practitioners from Buriram province — headed by Police Lieutenant Bunchai Sukhontamat, the provincial prosecutor — came to pay their respects to Luang Pu, to listen to the Dhamma, and to ask questions about how to progress further in their practice. Most of them had practiced with all the famous ajaans, who had explained the practice in a variety of ways that weren't always in line with one another, and this had caused them more and more doubts. So they asked Luang Pu's advice as to the way of practice that was correct and easiest, as they had difficulties in finding time to practice. If they could learn of a way that was really easy, it would be especially right for them.

Luang Pu answered,

"Watch the mind right at the mind."

23. Simple, but hard to do

The group of Duangporn Tharichat from the Air Force Radio Station 01 in Bang Syy, headed by Akhom Thannithate, came to the northeast to present group donations and to pay their respects to the ajaans in the various monasteries. When they stopped off to pay respect to Luang Pu, they presented their donations and received small mementos. After that, some of them went shopping in the market, while some of them found a place to rest. However, there was one group of about four or five people who stayed behind and asked Luang Pu to advise them on a simple method to get rid of mental distress and depression, which was a constant problem for them. What method, they asked, would give the quickest results?

Luang Pu answered,

"Don't send your mind outside."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... eleft.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[m0rl0ck]

I have always been amazed at the similarties between Ajahn Dune Atulo's and Bodhidharmas teachings .....

Thanks for those

EDIT: Every time i notice these parellels between the thai forest tradition and chan, I cant help but wonder how they happened. I dont suppose there is a way to really know how they influenced each other. If you are taking the leisurely route i suppose thailand is sort of on the way to china

[kirk5a]

So what is mind? Conditioned or unconditioned? Is it consciousness?

A different question to examine - Is there grasping? Including - grasping ideas about mind? That is what I ask myself.