Here we speak about Comprehension of the Causal Relation of Mind and Body. Why is that such a problem? It is because no matter what Comprehension we might have of the three Characteristics and the Truth about the Naming of Form arising from the undifferentiated, there still is a lingering doubt, for those Perceptions seem so stable and real and it is hard to believe that the Mind that cannot be easily defined is really responsible.
THE BODY
We might even be able to accept the Body as illusion conditioned by components of the Mind, but that the Mind itself is Illusion and itself conditioned is difficult to grasp. How can the Mind invent itself?
If there is Condition then there is Cause. It does not have as a cause an external creator, of that we can be sure.
What are the root causes of the BODY which is accepted as real? Certainly the Craving for Existence and the Clinging to that Existence are two factors which give a false reality to all Forms and Names, including, of course, the SELF of the Past, Present and Future.
It is easy to put aside the Past, Present and Future as mere Perceptual products. From moment to apparent moment what has gone before appears to be the cause for what follows (there are multiple causes).
Alright, we can accept that Ignorance elicits the apparent reality of all Phenomena. But this Ignorance arises from that elusive MIND, a mind that seems to be there ticking away.
THE MIND
When we speak of MIND we speak of the Consciousness of Mind, for without that Consciousess MIND cannot have even an illusory existence.
That the MIND within each person seems to make the same illusions also appears to be true. Can we say then that Past ACTIONS (KARMA) is the cause for MIND?
That makes it easy, for we can say then that MIND CONDITION is inherited. But do we then have to suppose an ORIGINAL MIND?
No, we do not. We can posit that MIND arose from the condition of Consciousness in which Consciousness "saw" itself. Was Consciousness then invented by the Mind? Is it not correct to say that the arising of the conditioned Contents of Consciousness was a preliminary step in the "Self Consciousness" which arose from its NAMING as such?
No matter how much we play with this Cognitively, the doubt seems to exist.
The only solution is to dig deeper beyond the words and concepts, so Reflection here is the answer. But what are the DEVICES for the Meditative REFLECTION?
Actually the DEVICE is a multiple DEVICE. It is Reflection upon Dependent Arising.
The Condition of Consciousness cannot arise if there is not the previous arising of ACTIVITY, which is known as FORMATIONS.
Following that cycle we can say that Formations beget Consciousness, Consciousness begets Perceptions, Perception the apparent existence of the Sense organs. The Sense organs beget Sensation and Sensation in turn begets Discrimination (which in the stained mind are Emotions).
Thus Discrimination begets the Coming into Being of Identity, and the Coming into Being of Identity its constant REBIRTH.
With the illusory presence of Identity there arises impermanence (with the illusions of aging, decay, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, despair and finally death).
With this arising of the Consciousneess of Impermanence, there arises IGNORANCE, from which spring those original FORMATIONS.
The Meditative Discernment of Reflection shows that if the apparent reality of one part of that chain is broken, then all falls as illusion.
Now when Consciousness arises, then all parts of the cycle are Conscious.
The Theravada systems focus upon the Craving and Clinging, destroying them as real, thus breaking the cycle.
The Mahayana systems focus upon the rising, birth and persistence of Identity, destroying Identity Existence.
We can say then that, as a result of Meditative Reflection, the components of the cycle and Consciousness of them, from Perception to Formation (Activity), is by Discernment seen as illusory.
By such clear Discernment then CONSCIOUSNESS and the Consciousness of Consciousness (MIND), which arises dependent upon FORMATIONS, is also seen to be illusory.