Store Consciousness - Verse Three

Seeds that manifest as body and mind,
as realms of beings, stages and worlds,
are all stored in our consciousness.
That is why it is called "store".

Nothing can be created nor destroyed. When conditions are right things manifest. How the body and mind manifest depends on the seeds and the quality of seeds in our store consciousness. With our actions we sow the seeds as well as prepare conditions for manifestation of seeds. Seeds manifest as resulting experiences when the conditions are available.

There are three realms of existence - realms of desire, form and no-form.  The realm of desire is the realm where we seek pleasures. We are always desiring and are never satisfied. There are always unfulfilled desires. In the realm of form we have bodies but lesser desires. In the formless realm, there are no bodies, but the mind energy exists.

Within these three realms are nine stages of existence. Our world is a manifestation of the consciousnesses of the beings in it. Imagine an apartment shared by a group of young men and another occupied by a group of Buddhist nuns. Each member brings his "stuff". Now consider these apartments as worlds in themselves. The atmosphere and the objects in each world would depend on the kind of people occupying the world. You can imagine the differences.

Stages of existence within the realms of desires and form are categorized on the basis of similarities and dissimilarities. Dissimilar bodies, dissimilar thoughts is one stage of existence. Imagine living with a tiger in close vicinity. Similar bodies but dissimilar thoughts is another stage. Imagine the Republicans and Democrats arguing over Equal Pay or the Minimum Wage Act. Dissimilar bodies but similar thoughts is another stage of existence. Imagine a child and a dog both always very eager to play. Next is the stage of similar bodies and minds. Imagine the inhabitants of a monastery like Plum Village. In another stage, the beings do not have ideation following perception. Imagine a group of monks practicing walking meditation by a river. Just walking and focusing on their breath, watching the river flow. This is an existence where the mind does not keep grasping the objects of perceptions. These are the fives stages corresponding to the realms of desires and form.

There a four stages of existence in the formless realm. Limitless space, limitless consciousness, no object and no perception or non-perception. With the help of a teacher we may be able to experience these stages through meditation.

There two worlds of existence - the world of sentient beings and the instrumental world like that of mountains and rivers.

The seeds that manifest as our body and mind, the realms and the world we experience are all stored in the store consciousness. So it is indeed very important that we as a society collectively water the right seeds. If we water the seeds of Buddhahood in us by practicing the five mindfulness trainings, we will be happier. If we water the seeds of discord, violence etc. we will suffer.

(Based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.)

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