Although it is difficult to realize emptiness, it is possible, by meditating on our own being and on outer phenomena, to recognize the invalidity of our ignorant concept of self-existence. However, a further complication remains, because our conception of independent existence also applies very powerfully to the mind that is meditating. When such a difficulty arises, we must concentrate on consciousness itself in order to perceive that the mind, too, is empty and does not exist independently.

The mind has not come from somewhere, like a guest who has come into a room, nor does it go anywhere. It has no form or color and does not abide in any definite place. In fact, it is completely intangible and depends on only two things - the object that is perceived and the senses through which it is perceived.

Through constant observation of the mind in this way we shall see that it does not exist in the way we previously conceived it to. When we had thought that our mind was meditating, it always seemed as though we could hold on to and isolate this concept, but after meditating as described we shall recognize the emptiness of this previous ignorant conception. However, this emptiness does not imply that mind does not exist, but rather that there is no mind that can be grasped and isolated. Since it does exist, we are able to use it for meditation.

Copyright Brian Beresford, 1977, 1996. Excerpted from Advice from a Spiritual Friend, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org