The Pure or Original Mind
From my study, reflection, and meditation, I have listed the following different aspects of the pure or original mind (sometimes referred to as the alaya):
OPENNESS
(1) Awareness
(2) Openness
(3) Emptiness
CLARITY
(4) Knowing
(5) Clarity
(6) Wisdom
(7) Perfection
SENSITIVITY
(8) Love and Compassion
(9) Sensitivity (Responsiveness)
(10) Spontaneity
(Alexander Peck, October 15, 2021)
Five Wisdoms
In relation to the nature of mind, there are five aspects of primordial wisdom, described as the five wisdoms, which are as follows:
(1) Wisdom of all-encompassing space
(2) Mirror-like wisdom
(3) Wisdom of equality
(4) Wisdom of discernment
(5) All-accomplishing wisdom
One can think of the nature of mind like a mirror, with five different powers or ‘wisdoms’.
Its openness and vastness is the wisdom of all-encompassing space [or dharmadhatu], the womb of compassion.
Its capacity to reflect in precise detail whatever comes before it is the mirror-like wisdom.
Its fundamental lack of any bias toward any impression is the equalising wisdom [or wisdom of equality].
Its ability to distinguish clearly, without confusing in any way the various different phenomena that arise, is the wisdom of discernment.
Its potential of having everything already accomplished, perfected, and spontaneously present is the all-accomplishing wisdom.
(Source: Sogyal Rinpoche. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2002.)