In the beginning should a practitioner focus their attention inward on the nature of mind or outward on objects of perception?
A student writes: When one starts out on the path, should one direct the mind towards investigating its own nature, as well as practicing and strengthening meditation, rather than be concerned with objects of perception (whether physical or mental states) of the outwardly directed mind. These mind states do not have to be negative, they could be positive, for example compassion or kindness to mention a few. Intuitively, I feel that the mind needs to be directed inward rather outward at the beginning. Turning the luminous aspect of the mind and shine it upon itself so to speak. Thubten Yeshe responds: I would say both. If you follow the meditations in Module 1, in the sequence that they are presented, you are doing the lot: using the mindfulness meditations you are improving your meditation technique and observing on your own body-mind complex and everything it encounters; you are meditating on the continuity and clear light nature of the mind; you are reflecting on your relationships w
