What Is the Capacity of the Mind?

A large measure of the mind accomplishes great deeds; a small measure accomplishes small deeds; without any measure, nothing is accomplished. What is meant by the measure of the mind? It refers to the capacity of the mind to encompass phenomena. What does "the mind encompasses the vast emptiness and pervades worlds as numerous as grains of sand" mean? This indicates that the mind's capacity is so vast that it contains the entire expanse of emptiness; its measure extends to worlds as countless as grains of sand. Apart from the Buddha's mind with its eight consciousnesses, which can encompass the vast emptiness and pervade worlds as numerous as sands, the Tathagatagarbha of sentient beings is also like this.

Although the Tathagatagarbha encompasses the vast emptiness and pervades worlds as numerous as sands, the Tathagatagarbha is the Tathagatagarbha; it does not mean the seven consciousnesses are likewise. The Tathagatagarbha of many people can encompass the great emptiness, yet their own seven consciousnesses can only encompass themselves, along with their family and relatives. Such a small measure of mind accomplishes nothing significant. It is difficult for the measure of sentient beings' minds to be like that of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who embrace the entire Buddhist cause and all beings in the Dharma realm. Without this measure of mind, if one ceaselessly pursues only personal self-interest day after day, considers only personal matters and those of family and relatives, and with such a mind seeks the Buddha Way hoping to gain benefit from the Dharma, that is impossible.

Some people, at the slightest sign of trouble, flee in panic and hide away. They absolutely refuse to step forward no matter what happens within Buddhism, yet when they themselves encounter problems, they seek help everywhere. For people with such conduct and mindset to suffer the pain of birth and death throughout long kalpas is not unjust. Many people rely on Buddhism, treating it as their home, wishing to receive the blessings of the Triple Gem from Buddhism. Yet when the home of Buddhism has matters to attend to, when the Triple Gem needs protection, these people all stay far away, watching the difficulties of Buddhism and the Triple Gem as if it were a spectacle. How could such people be considered disciples of the Buddha? How could they receive the blessings of the Buddhist Triple Gem? There are also others who are engrossed in mundane trivialities, endlessly afflicted without respite. Their vision is as narrow as that of ants; every day is filled with disputes and conflicts, constant entanglement, suffering, and affliction, unaware and unawakened.

The Shurangama Sutra states: "All phenomena, from the physical body to external mountains, rivers, space, and the great earth, are but objects within the wondrous bright true mind." The Five Aggregates body, from inside to out, encompasses a vast scope; it is not limited to the size of one's own physical body. Therefore, do not cling to small matters every day. How much better to grasp the great matter of birth and death! Every day is consumed by illusory, insubstantial affairs; the vision is too narrow. If one broadens their vision and opens the measure of the mind, all phenomena will become empty. How wonderful it would be for the mind to be empty, tranquil, liberated, and at ease! Why cling incessantly to greed, hatred, delusion, and affliction day after day? Why can the measure of the mind not open? It is because of heavy karmic obstructions, meager merit, lack of wisdom, and limited insight, which cause the capacity of the mind to be small. The principles of cultivation seem clear and straightforward, yet one simply cannot actualize them. It is like seeing distant mountains and oceans clearly through a telescope yet being utterly unable to reach them personally. Being stuck at the level of theory, unable to manifest it in practice at all, is precisely because the measure of the mind remains unopened.