The true nature

The citta is the mind’s essential knowing nature, the fundamental quality of knowing that underlies all sentient existence.

1. When associated with a physical body, it is referred to as “mind” or “heart”. Being corrupted by the defiling influence of fundamental ignorance (avijjã；无明), its currents “flow out；漏” to manifest as:

• Feelings (vedanã)--情绪纠缠；
• Memory (saññã)--梦魇困惑；
• Thoughts (sankhãra) --妄念纷飞, and 
• Consciousness (viññãna) 意识污染, 

thus embroiling the citta in a web of self-deception【真心被重重包裹在一个自我欺骗的网络里面】. It is deceived about its own true nature【真心的真实本性因自我欺骗而丢失了】.

2. The true nature of the citta is that it simply “knows”【真心的真实本性就是简单的一个“知”字。】. There is no subject, no object, no duality; it simply knows【没有认知主体，没有认知对象，没有二元性；就只是“知”而已】. The citta does not arise or pass away; it is never born and never dies【真心没有出现或消失；没有出生或死亡】.

3. Normally, the “knowing nature” of the citta is timeless, boundless, and radiant【真心的“知”，超越时间、超越空间，一片光明】, but this true nature is obscured by the defilements (kilesa) within it【然而，真心的真实本性却受到了下列的污染而失去光明】:

• Through the power of fundamental ignorance, a focal point of the “knower” is created from which that knowing nature views the world outside. 由于“根本无明”的作用，形成了“认知者”的聚焦点，把世界看成是外在的”；
• The establishment of that false center creates a “self” from whose perspective consciousness flows out to perceive the duality of the “knower” and the “known”. 从“认知者”的聚焦点，便形成“我”的视角，意识便向外流漏，造成“认知”和“被认知”的二元性。
• Thus the citta becomes entangled with things that are born, become ill, grow old, and die, and therefore, deeply involved it in a whole mass of suffering. 因此，真心便被困于生老病死的事物中，深深陷在乱七八糟的苦难中。