Preface

Question 1

Why is meditation mental awareness?

Answer 1

1. Sense awarenesses of sentient beings are always neutral and meditation is necessarily a virtuous mind.
2. Sense awarenesses cannot perceive generic images.
3. Sense awareness cannot hold an object with mindfulness.

Question 2

What are the three special characteristics of our human life?

Answer 2

(i) its freedom and endowment - humans are free from hindrances and have all the necessary conditions (‘endowments’) to engage in spiritual paths.
(ii) its rarity - each one of us has only one life
(iii) its great meaning - become a fully enlightened being; benefit all living beings; fulfil all our own and others’ wishes.

Question 3

Whether or not we attain enlightenment depends upon three things:

Answer 3

(i) Our faith
(ii) motivation
(iii) understanding