Thought is Samsara and Nirvana

From one point of view/level/vehicle, thought is ignorance/samsara
and
From another point of view/level/vehicle, thought is essence/nirvana.

….I laugh in the face of confusion…!

Plan A
When we start to investigate our mind, we realise that thoughts dominate our lives, especially when they develop into emotions. Firstly, we have to identify and then cut through thoughts, stopping them dead through focused meditation. We start to realise that essence (our essential, empty, pure nature) has totally ignored itself and become involved and obsessed with thoughts – and is therefore ignorant. It’s our idiot friend! We are attached to this ‘friend’ and so we (pure awareness) keep having to cut thoughts dead; this takes much continual effort, and in this way, a duality is still maintained. It is essential to identify this, and have good discipline and therefore control. We must first recognise duality in order to arrive at non-duality.

Plan B – change vehicles!
There is now a refined viewpoint: when thoughts arise, we (pure awareness) remain in neutral. Thoughts are not followed or identified. We merely stay disinterested. Habitually, the mind will want to do something…to think…but as a result of disinterest, thoughts do not come to fruition or manifest clearly; there is just a rumbling potential of ideas. Our senses are wide open. The eyes merely see but do not look: this applies to all the senses.

Gradually, thoughts cease, maybe bubbling up now and again. Now, if thoughts arise, they are merely an indication, a remembrance or recognition of essence. Essence rests in non-duality. As soon as a thought arises, it is clearly seen, and that thought becomes emptiness; our true nature.

Let’s say we’re sitting in a field. There is a sunrise, cows, trees, sky. In plan A, the mind identifies and drops, identifies and drops…let go… let go… let go. It’s a good discipline. In plan B, essence merely notes the quality of light, sound, smell, taste and touch…and relaxes rests in emptiness.

To put it another way, Plan B is more laid back…and smiles in the face of confusion, our idiot friend! 😉

The essence of mind is clear light.
Timeless awareness.

Thoughts are phantoms from the past.
A passing appearance.

Whether a thought is a rumbling potential
or a fully fledged, full bloodied movie
is dictated by our capacity in any given moment.

Movement in the mind is recognised by essence
and is therefore immediately liberated.
Thus, thoughts become emptiness.
Nirvana.