Mind in its elemental form is said to be pristinely pure.
Some might like to compare it to fully distilled water devoid of any
adventitious malignant or benignant substances. Some would think it is pregnant
with innate positive qualities, that is, comparable to pure water pregnant with
rich precious minerals. But pure mind can become polluted. If the regnant
pollutant is hatred, mind becomes indignant, oppugnant, and malignant. If the
regnant pollutant is attachment, it becomes poignant. If the regnant pollutant
is confusion or ignorance, mind becomes stagnant. A polluted mind become
repugnant and malignant. But we also find several methods of purification:
disinfection, distillation, sedimentation, sterilization, and so on. One
approach is particularly noteworthy. According to one, mind has never been
mind. It is as though we have all the while taken (virtual) “mirage-water” to
be (actual) water. Gaining direct meditative insight into this reality is said
to liberate one once and for all.
