A very ancient Buddhist model of the human mind and psychology includes something called the Store Consciousness (Alaya-vijnana). Thich Nhat Hanh has compiled several verses which give a sense of its workings … here are part:
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Mind is a field
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In which every kind of seed is sown.
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This mind-field can also be called
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In us are infinite varieties of seeds –
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Seeds of samsara, nirvana, delusion, and enlightenment,
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Seeds of suffering and happiness,
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… Are all stored in our consciousness.
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That is why it is called “store”.
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- Some seeds are innate,
- Handed down by our ancestors.
- Some were sown while we were still in the womb,
- Others were sown when we were children.
- The quality of our life
- Depends on the quality
- Of the seeds
- That lie deep in our consciousness.
Although a rather complicated idea, the basic premise is really very simple. Whether we experience the world with happiness, sadness, anger, peacefulness, fear, courage, greed, generosity … all depends on the particular seeds which come to fruition.
But the good news is that we do have the power to nurture, and like a gardener, water and cultivate the wholesome seeds within us. We can often choose the seeds we wish to grow.
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
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