The sixth mind

There are six primary minds (or consciousnesses). The first five are related to the five senses, visual, auditory, etc. These draw the mind outward, distracting us from our deeper subtler minds. The sixth mind is mental consciousness. Grossly it is a thinking mind. More subtly it is a mind without thought, or a nonconceptual mind. Most subtly is the nondual mind that manifests during the death process. Relaxing our grasping to sensual objects, we rest in the present moment. As thoughts arise, we simply observe where they came from. When they stay, we simply observe where they stay. When they depart, we simply observe where they go. We do not analyze, but simply observe. Slowly we will gain experience of the vast and empty nature of the mind.