Mind That Is Not Mind: The True Nature of Consciousness

Have you ever wondered why you are drawn to some people and repelled by others? Why do you know something is wrong, yet still feel the urge to do it? It seems as if an invisible force guides our entire lives, sometimes leading us down unexpected paths. The answer lies within the very nature of consciousness. Venerable Thich Chan Quang taught in the Diamond Sutra that the mind is not merely thoughts or emotions; its essence runs much deeper.

## What Is the Mind? Three Foundational Elements

When we speak of the mind, many immediately think of thinking or feeling. However, Venerable Chan Quang points out that the true nature of the mind rests on three pillars: intention, awareness, and karma. These three elements constitute all mental activity, from hidden desires to daily judgments.

Intention is the driving force that directs us toward something. A robot can react according to programming, but it never truly "wants" anything. Only human beings possess desire. Awareness is direct recognition, unmediated by concepts. Even plants have a form of awareness; when you intend to step on them, they react instantly. Karma consists of past imprints that influence both awareness and intention, preventing them from being complete or accurate.

As Venerable Chan Quang explains, only humans possess this capacity for desire and profound awareness. This awareness is mysterious and subtle, beyond simple explanation.

## Awareness and Intention: Two Layers of Movement

Within the mind, awareness and intention always move together. Knowing heat leads to wanting coolness; knowing pain leads to wanting health. This is a natural law. Yet, without mindfulness, we can be swept away by this cycle, forgetting the root cause. For instance, while listening to a dharma talk, an urge to speak may arise. Thanks to awareness shaped by the past, we recognize that we should remain seated. Awareness comes first, followed by intention.

Venerable Chan Quang notes that whenever there is awareness, intention inevitably follows. We spend our days in this pattern of knowing and then wanting.

## Karma: The Invisible Director

Karma does not reside solely within the mind but manifests in every circumstance. Why do we find value in a false teacher? Why does a sudden rainstorm lead us to meet an old acquaintance? All these events bear the shadow of karma. Karma adjusts our awareness, causing us to see things correctly or incorrectly, which in turn guides our intentions. Therefore, we do not possess independent awareness. Without recognizing how karma influences us, we cannot understand why our minds behave erratically.

We are governed by past karma. If we achieve something good through luck, we should not assume it is due to our own brilliance. It is also the result of past actions.

## The Cycle of Karma: Wholesome or Unwholesome

Karma influences awareness; awareness creates intention; intention generates action; and action produces new karma. This forms a continuous cycle. If karma is negative, we perceive wrongly, desire improperly, create bad karma, and our mind grows darker. If karma is positive, we perceive correctly, desire wholesomely, create good karma, and our mind becomes brighter. Venerable Chan Quang emphasizes that we must regulate these three elements so that the cycle becomes wholesome, allowing the mind to gradually clarify over time.

A vicious cycle sinks our mind into darkness. When the mind is dark, we drift toward lowly and base states of existence.

## The Diamond Sutra: Mind That Is Not Mind

The Buddha taught: "The Tathagata speaks of all minds as non-minds; therefore, they are called minds." Mind that is not mind is what we call mind. Why? Venerable Chan Quang explains that the essential teaching of the Diamond Sutra is to perform countless acts of merit and save countless sentient beings, yet view it all as empty. When we do not cling to credit, we are not bound by our own mind. The mind remains composed of awareness, intention, and karma, but we no longer identify with it. This is the gateway to practice.

The core of the Diamond Sutra is doing infinite good, helping infinite beings, and putting forth infinite effort, yet regarding all of it as nothing.

By practicing in this way, we transform the mind. We cultivate good karma, clear awareness, and wholesome intentions. Simultaneously, we let go of attachment, ensuring the mind is not trapped by its own achievements. Thus, we accumulate blessings while nurturing virtue. This is the path of a sage: clearly understanding cause and effect (karmic law) and skillfully applying it, rather than escaping from it.

Begin with the smallest details. Observe each intention within you, trace where each moment of awareness originates, and notice how karma influences your decisions. With sufficient mindfulness, you will see that your mind is no longer a labyrinth, but a path leading to true enlightenment.