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Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

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The above stages of virtue may be followed according<br />

to the scriptures <strong>and</strong> the Vinaya without any kind of<br />

concentration. However, if one wants to control the<br />

mind <strong>and</strong> enable it to sweep away the inner distractions<br />

<strong>and</strong> delusions to develop concentration so that one may<br />

meditate on the truth <strong>and</strong> discover one's potential, then<br />

one has to train the mind through the following steps of<br />

samatha.<br />

C. Distinguishing the Concentrated Mind from the<br />

Disturbed Mind <strong>and</strong> Training the Sixth<br />

Consciousness<br />

Consciousness is said to be of six kinds in the Hinayana,<br />

eight in Mahayana, <strong>and</strong> nine in Vajrayana. These<br />

divisions are like the psychic channel system, which<br />

consists of all different kinds of channels, yet the system<br />

is only one. No matter how many divisions are made of<br />

the consciousness, the most important function of it is<br />

the mind, which is usually called "the sixth<br />

consciousness."<br />

Western scholars, as well as those in the East, regard the<br />

mind as very important. Milton said: "The mind is its<br />

own place <strong>and</strong> in itself can make a heaven of hell <strong>and</strong> a<br />

hell of heaven." Napoleon said, "There are but two<br />

powers in the world, the sword <strong>and</strong> the mind. In the<br />

long run the sword is always beaten by the mind." Plato<br />

said, "Mind is the ruler of the universe." Burlamaqui<br />

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