Mind consciousness operates in five ways -
in cooperation with the five sense consciousnesses
and independent of them,
dispersed, concentrated, or unstably.
Mind consciousness works in five ways. One way is in cooperation with the five senses. When we look at a flower and recognize it as a flower, the mind is working in cooperation with the eye consciousness.
When we look at a flower but the mind is preoccupied with other thoughts and does not recognize the flower, it is working independently of the sense (eye) consciousness. That is the second way the mind consciousness functions.
Dispersion is the third way the mind consciousness functions. Unable to stop thinking, it moves from one thought to another. This happens very often. We can observe this very clearly when we look at little children studying. They frequently look out the window or engage in other activity, losing focus. Then you have to remind them to look into their book.
Mind consciousness is also capable of concentration. The practice of samatha meditation is to calm the mind and bring the focus on to one object like our breath. In order to practice samatha meditation, we can sit in the seven-point Vairochana posture, Maitreya posture or any comfortable position with the back straight. Then bring our attention to our breath. Breathing in we become aware that we are breathing in. Breathing out we are aware that we are breathing out. Typically, in Burma, monks focus on the rising and falling of the abdomen. In Tibet, monks focus on the area just below the nostrils. In Thailand, it is common for monks to simultaneously chant Budh-dho in the mind. Budh with the in-breath, dho with the out-breath. The idea is to bring the mind's attention to an object and not lose focus of the object. The object can be the breath, the abdomen, a mantra, an image, it can be anything. Try different things and see what works for you. A mantra can be helpful. Here is a mantra for you-
"Breathing in I am aware that I am breathing in.
Breathing out I am aware that I am breathing out."
When due to some reasons the mind consciousness is unable to function normally, it is said to be unstable. This is when we are mentally ill.
If you find it difficult to concentrate and are frequently distracted and lose focus, you should practice samatha meditation. Just focus on one object of consciousness like a sound, an image, a feeling, your breath or the rising and falling of your abdomen, twice in a day (twenty minutes each session). You may not be able to focus for twenty minutes but you can at least try to sit for twenty minutes.
According to Mahāmudrā teachings, the restlessness and the dullness of the mind are the challenges a monk needs to overcome in the practice of samatha meditation. This happens in nine stages and is illustrated through nine paintings featuring a monk, a monkey (restlessness) and an elephant (dullness).
According to the Dzogchen teachings, we must practice letting the mind to 'just be'. Dzogchen teachers want their students to let go of all objects (including the breath) and just rest the mind naturally. They want their students to not have the sense of meditating and yet be completely undistracted.
In the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition, monks are constantly practicing being aware of the present moment. By cultivating awareness of breath, of sensations, of bodily actions etc. There are gathas to bring the mind to focus on the present activity. For example, there is a gatha to accompany the activity of putting on the robes, a gatha to accompany the activity of washing the face etc. For example, while brushing their teeth, the monks recite -
"Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth, I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
When my mouth is fragrant with right speech, a flower blooms in the garden of my heart."
While reciting gathas along with performing bodily actions or merely sitting, we are practicing bringing the body and mind to the present moment. We are practicing living in the present moment. We are practicing freedom and joy.
(Based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.)
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