False mind

A term used in Zen Buddhism to indicate the mind of ordinary people, consisting of the thinking mind, the intellect and consciousness.  This mind is corrupted by emotions and attachment to worldly objects, by clinging to the past, present, future, and is driven by the underlying energy of mental defilements and the self.  It is the cause of sorrow and suffering.

The false mind is also called the worldly mind.  The Diamond Sutta called it the past-present-future mind (V: tâm ba thời).  The Buddha called it the dirty water pond (V: hồ nước đục) or the “what was born” (V: cái bị sinh).

Refer to the text “The Three Aspects of Knowing” for more details

V: vọng tâm