The potential for liberation

• Contemplating all sentient beings as wanting to happy and free from suffering
• Different types of obstructions that prevent the mind to perceive things
• Afflictive obscurations and cognitive obscurations
• Three factors that make the liberation possible
• Ignorance and afflictions don’t have a valid basis
• Virtuous qualities cannot be undermined by wisdom

Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature 112: The Potential for Liberation (download)

Contemplation points

1. Take some time to consider that every living being is driven by the wish to be happy and not suffer. Think about reports from the news, the people you know, and yourself. Is this true from your experience, in what you hear and see around you? Consider how powerful that internal drive is. What kinds of actions do you do to get what you want and avoid what you don’t want? Allow compassion to arise that this is the experience of every sentient being.
2. What is the nature of the mind? What is its potential and what obstructions can hinder this potential? Make examples of different kinds of obstructions.
3. Spend some time imagining the potential for the mind to remain in a completely peaceful state no matter what arose externally. Contemplate some scenarios that you normally find disturbing, but now imagine that your mind is perfectly calm. What would that be like
4. Consider the three factors that make liberation possible: the basic nature of the mind is pure, afflictions are adventitious, and its possible to cultivate powerful antidotes. Describe each in your own words and reflect on them. Really spend time considering that liberation, a state without disturbing emotions and wrong views, a state where the mind rests peacefully in every moment, is in fact possible because of these factors.