It's a spiritual practice to contemplate the consciousness linked to
action, especially our consciousness linked to works. Most works are mixed
works. They are mixed because most of us are spun by the Wheel of Birth
and Death. This Wheel is easier to comprehend when we see it as the Wheel
of suffering or samsara; to spin in perpetual wandering. The more we spin
the Wheel the less we are afflicted by perpetual wandering.
Mixed work is mixed with wanting to help the other
and to benefit ourselves. This type of mixed work is similar to a point crossing
a longitude and latitude line; it is a spiritual location. Over time and with
spiritual effort and practice there is less concern about what we get out of
the work because the ego-self is restrained and relinquished.
There's no hard and fast formula or rule which helps us with work. The Precepts
provide moral fence posts that help us stay upright. Work is a bit more messy and
hands on than a rule or formula. It's actually more difficult than a formulaic
approach. Inner contemplation which spots the grasping ego helps us, but we
need to continuously reflect on the effects of our actions.
When we do something, let's say something we deem work it often leaves
an imprint on our mind after the action is done. This imprint might be similar to the
movements on a barometer. The action leaves either a mark or moves the barometric
needle in one direction or another. The work may be labeled 'good' or 'bad.'
Often this mark or movement in the mind accumulates into a sense of "pressure."
There is some force left in the mind which accompanies action. The degree of the
force is related to the action. We often call it a predisposition,
mood, or a sense of potential. Each relates to the force we experience.
The force from the action leaves a mark or moves the needle and this mark
or movement effects the mind in the next action.
Actions, whether deemed 'good' or 'bad' cause the mind to be marked or moved. This
simple way of looking at what happens is part of what is called "karma." Action effects us.
All action effects us. The needle moves, the mark is left. We respond to the next moment
with the influence of the previous needle movement or mark. This force or mark is a force
to be reckoned with. Fortunately, it is a force we may effect and influence with practice.
Attention to the effect is mindful attention since the effect influences the next action.
When someone yells at you, you feel the effect and are predisposed to respond.
The same is true when your action is to yell at someone else, your mind is predisposed
by the influence of the yelling you just did. When we spin on the Wheel we tend to rotate
from heaven to hell pretty quickly, from the god realm to the hell realm through our actions.
Actions and the accumulation of actions effect the path; but in no way is the Eternal
effected by our actions. We are effected. The Beloved remains the Beloved no matter what we do.
