To keep an eye on whether one is distracted or not, first of all, one needs effortful mindfulness. When that slowly, slowly has become habituated it becomes effortless. By effortful mindfulness, one is led to the effortless.
When effortful mindfulness has become self-sustained, there is a vivid, wakeful, effortless state of being awake without any need for force or struggle, without rigidity, just naturally alert. When you become accustomed, there is only undistracted rigpa.
It is said, “Sustain primordial free awareness with natural mindfulness.” That means without being distracted, without being carried away, exactly as it is, rest freely. Although this self-abiding non-distraction is called mindfulness, in this context there is no duality.
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
from the book Vajra Speech: A Commentary on The Quintessence of Spiritual Practice
translated by Erik Pema Kunsang
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Further quotes from the book Vajra Speech:
- Obscurations and negative karma
- Let appearance and awareness be indivisible
- Still be seduced by appearances
- Recognizing rigpa no matter what occurs
- Like a blazing fire
- Openness
- Ignorance
- The unity of empty and cognizance