When we have any kind of lust or attachment, which is very natural for all of us, then instead of looking at it as an enemy and as being terrible, or embracing it as wonderful and desirable, just leave it alone and look at that state of mind, which is very noticeable and very clear because of the lust and the desire.

We all try to see our mind but we cannot. This is a totally inappropriate example but somehow it helps you to understand. If there was a ghost and you had some special ghost-revealing dust-powder, if you threw the powder on the ghost you would see a powder body with two or four arms and maybe no head; scary. So it is like that – we cannot see our mind but when it is manifesting as second or third generation, as attachment or anger, we can see it, no problem.

So instead of looking at the emotion as negative or embracing and going after it, just look at it. Then you are able to see the nature of your mind, which is manifesting negatively in a form of attachment, but in essence it is the ‘kuntog thobpa yeshe’ (wisdom of perfect discernment or wisdom of great joy) or ‘nyampa nyi kyi yeshe’ (wisdom or equanimity) or ‘so sor tog pai yeshe’ (discriminating wisdom). That way it manifests and is how you are able to transform it ultimately. But relatively it is also very good.

Tai Situ Rinpoche

from the book Aspiration of Kuntu Zangpo

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