How to Abide Nowhere and Give Rise to the Mind

Original text: Therefore, Subhuti, all Bodhisattva Mahasattvas should generate a pure mind thus: they should not dwell on form to generate the mind, should not dwell on sound, scent, taste, touch, or dharmas to generate the mind. They should generate the mind without dwelling anywhere.

The Buddha said to Subhuti: Therefore, all Bodhisattva Mahasattvas should generate a pure mind in this way. They should not dwell on form to generate the mind, should not dwell on sound, scent, taste, touch, or dharmas to generate the mind. They should generate the mind without dwelling anywhere.

This passage summarizes the preceding ten chapters, instructing all Bodhisattva Mahasattvas on how to generate a pure mind. They should generate a pure mind as previously explained. What was previously explained? It explained practicing the paramitas by emptying themselves of all dharmic characteristics, emptying themselves of the characteristics of giving and cultivating blessings, emptying themselves of the characteristics of self, person, sentient beings, and lifespan, emptying themselves of the Tathagata's bodily characteristics, emptying themselves of dharmic characteristics and non-dharmic characteristics, emptying themselves of the characteristics of the Buddha Dharma, emptying themselves of the characteristics of the Tathagata's teaching, emptying themselves of the characteristics of generating the bodhi mind, emptying themselves of the characteristics of fruition stages, emptying themselves of the characteristics of realizing bodhi, emptying themselves of the characteristics of attaining the Dharma, emptying themselves of the characteristics of adorning the Buddha land, and so forth.

After emptying themselves of these characteristics, the mind gains nothing and seeks nothing. They do not dwell on the characteristics of form, giving rise to various mental activities. They do not dwell on the characteristics of sound, giving rise to various mental activities. They do not dwell on the characteristics of scent, giving rise to various mental activities. They do not dwell on the characteristics of taste, giving rise to various mental activities. They do not dwell on the characteristics of touch, giving rise to various mental activities. They do not dwell on the characteristics of dharmas, giving rise to various mental activities. In summary, they should not dwell on the characteristics of the six dusts (objects of sense) to give rise to various mental activities. Not dwelling on the six dusts means dwelling nowhere. Dwelling on the six dusts is to dwell somewhere. Dwelling somewhere is non-dwelling, an improper dwelling; the mind is impure and fails to generate great wisdom. Because the characteristics of the six dusts are actually non-characteristics; they are called the six dusts but are ultimately empty. How can one dwell on emptiness? Being unable to dwell is non-dwelling; dwelling itself is empty. Therefore, they should generate the bodhi mind and practice the bodhisattva path without dwelling on form, sound, scent, taste, touch, or dharmas. They should generate the bodhi mind and practice the bodhisattva path without dwelling anywhere.

Specifically, how does one practice the path without dwelling on form, sound, scent, taste, touch, or dharmas? It requires clearly understanding what constitutes form, what constitutes sound, scent, taste, touch, and dharmas; what dharmas belong to the six dusts; which dharmas one is particularly attached to or craves; what mental states one holds while practicing giving and cultivating blessings; what one seeks; what choices one makes based upon; and what purposes and aspirations one has when generating the mind and practicing the Dharma—whether one is clinging to any worldly dharmas. One must profoundly observe one's own mind, deeply excavate one's own thoughts, to grasp one's own mind, purify mental states, and thereby become free from desires and seeking. Only then can one's actions be pure, gradually accord with emptiness, gradually accord with stillness, and swiftly attain Nirvana, whether of the Hinayana or Mahayana.