Correct reasons and reliable cognizers

• Three kinds of doubt
• Prasangikas unique view of reliable cognizers
• Knowing when we have a correct reason and a reliable cognizer

The Foundation of Buddhist Practice 09: Correct reasons and reliable cognizers (download)

Contemplation points

1. When we investigate with an ultimate cognizer, there is no object to be found (conventional or ultimate). Spend some time thinking about that. Why is that true? Why is it that a mind of ultimate analysis is not the mind that would perceive a conventional object?
2. Why is it good that this analysis is uncomfortable? How does this help our practice?
3. Explain how a reliable cognizer can be mistaken with respect to its appearing object but non deceptive with respect to its apprehended object. How is this Prasangika view different from other tenet systems?
4. Spend some time thinking about how all our perceptions are mistaken. Do you find some resistance arise when you consider this? What is the reasoning behind why they are all mistaken?
5. Being able to differentiate between reliable cognizers and wrong awarenesses in ordinary daily life is very important. What is the particular importance for being able to do this in your meditation sessions?
6. What are Tsongkhapa’s three criteria for existent phenomena? Spend some time observing your consciousnesses. Which ones are reliable and which ones aren’t? Come up with some other examples as well as you move through the day, read the paper, etc.