In the Lankavatara Sutra, Citta is derived from the root ci, which means "to pile up" and "to arrange in order". Thus, the Citta is akin to "a storehouse into which the seeds of all thoughts and deeds accumulate" and are stored.
Yet the Citta has two meanings, general and specific. Generally-speaking, it means "heart-mind", the emotive part of the mind which includes the activities of Manas — intellect or mind-sense which grasps mental objects — and Manovijnana (sixth consciousness), and also of the Vijnanas (the five consciousnesses).
In this sense, it represents a person's mindset or state of mind which may be dominated by emotions.
Specifically the Citta is the Alayavijnana in its relative aspects, which is distinguishable from the rest of the mental faculties i.e. the pure mind that is free of the defilements of attachment, hatred and delusion.
In the form of Citta-matra, Mind-only, "Citta" is identifiable with the Alaya in its absolute aspect.
Alayavijnana means storehouse consciousness, for alaya is a storehouse "where things are hoarded for future use." As a cumulative faculty, the Citta is thus identified with the Alayavijnana. Yet the Alaya "is not a Vijnana," and "has no discerning power in it."
Indeed, the Alaya "indiscriminately harbours all that is poured into it through the channel of the Vijnanas."
The Alaya is the mind-stream, the stream of consciousness which is neutral, indifferent, and non-judgmental.
Regarding citta, the mind is first calmed during samatha meditation.
Then the mind is purified when liberating insight arises during vipassana meditation.
Reference:
Lankavatara Sutra: http://lirs.ru/do/lanka_eng/lanka-nondiacritical.htm
Citta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citta
Vipassana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipassana
Instructions on breath meditation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati_Sutta
Showing posts with label Mind-Only. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mind-Only. Show all posts
20130104
Mind and Consciousness As Viewed by the Buddhist
Is the mind a quality of consciousness? No, the mind cannot be a quality of consciousness as it (the mind) arises through the outflow from the brain.
It is an impossibility for conscious to be aware of the mind, since the mind being aware indicates consciousness, whilst consciousness is a quality of the mind.
Is consciousness a quality of the mind? Yes, for the mind is conscious of self and others.
With respect to the consciousness-only school of Buddhism, consciousness itself arises from the mind, which itself arises from the brain's activities.
If the brain dies, so too does consciousness and the mind. Therefore, it can be said that consciousness is also a quality of the active brain.
Thus, consciousness is vaguely aware of itself but to be conscious of consciousness is redundant in syntax. This is why such consciousness is called awareness. Another term used is meta-consciousness, though I haven't heard of it or read of it.
If we replace consciousness with awareness, then the questions are better answered.
Is the mind a quality of awareness? No, because you need a mind to be aware of itself and consciousness.
Is awareness a quality of the mind? Yes, because the mind can be aware of itself and consciousness.
However, could the mind become a quality of awareness? It is possible, despite syntactical errors.
Then it is possible for consciousness to be aware of consciousness, and for the mind to be aware of consciousness. However, the mind can be aware of itself too. Such a mind is known as the diamond mind. Being aware of itself implies clarity of mind as well as mental transparency (the ability to see things through).
Thus awareness is not equal to consciousness but are two facets of the mind..
Since both the mind and consciousness can be aware of consciousness, it follows that the mind is similar to consciousness.
Yet the mind cannot be equal to consciousness since without the mind, it is gone.
Yet is an unconscious mind aware? No, it cannot use the senses.
You'll find that using the senses one can find out a lot about the mind: it can experience phenomenon, both inner (of the mind) or outer (material). Also, the mind can experience phenomenon that has no existence outside fictional works be it in print, on the big and silver screen, especially video.
As well, the mind can be aware of the fact that every character and sentient being in a manga is a conscious entity and thus possesses consciousness, despite the fact that every character and sentient being have no physical existence apart from a poor sketch of each character.
Going further, since Amida Buddha has a cover story, it depicts a mythical king who pledged allegiance ot a Buddha of a bygone era before the historical Buddha, and consequently founded a Buddha world called "The Pure Land of Bliss." After many lifetimes he became the twin Buddhas, Amida Buddha and Amitayus Buddha (Boundless Light of Wisdom and Boundless Life of Compassion respectively. These twins meditated for many eons and soon merged as one, called Amida Buddha.
How is this related to awareness and consciousness? Metaphorically, awareness denote a generalization of the feeling of being aware that is shared between all sentient beings. In contrast, consciousness is the generalization of the feeling of being consciousness. Just as one can be conscious of having a mind, a mind can be aware of being conscious. Thus being conscious and being aware are almost alike just a Amida and Amitayus are alike and just as Wisdom and Compassion are alike.
Compassion applies being able to be selfless enough to lose self-consciousness. Ergo it is associated with awareness. Thus one can be aware of being compassionate, yet have an awareness of compassion.
Wisdom on the other hand applies to experiencing phenomenon from a personal point of view, must as being conscious is. Thus one can be conscious of being wise, and wisdom is thus the shared view of being wise.
Thus awareness of compassion is possible and being conscious of wisdom is too possible.
Likewise one can be aware of being wise, and be conscious of compassion.
Therefore wisdom and compassion are but two facets of the diamond mind.
It is an impossibility for conscious to be aware of the mind, since the mind being aware indicates consciousness, whilst consciousness is a quality of the mind.
Is consciousness a quality of the mind? Yes, for the mind is conscious of self and others.
With respect to the consciousness-only school of Buddhism, consciousness itself arises from the mind, which itself arises from the brain's activities.
If the brain dies, so too does consciousness and the mind. Therefore, it can be said that consciousness is also a quality of the active brain.
Thus, consciousness is vaguely aware of itself but to be conscious of consciousness is redundant in syntax. This is why such consciousness is called awareness. Another term used is meta-consciousness, though I haven't heard of it or read of it.
If we replace consciousness with awareness, then the questions are better answered.
Is the mind a quality of awareness? No, because you need a mind to be aware of itself and consciousness.
Is awareness a quality of the mind? Yes, because the mind can be aware of itself and consciousness.
However, could the mind become a quality of awareness? It is possible, despite syntactical errors.
Then it is possible for consciousness to be aware of consciousness, and for the mind to be aware of consciousness. However, the mind can be aware of itself too. Such a mind is known as the diamond mind. Being aware of itself implies clarity of mind as well as mental transparency (the ability to see things through).
Thus awareness is not equal to consciousness but are two facets of the mind..
Since both the mind and consciousness can be aware of consciousness, it follows that the mind is similar to consciousness.
Yet the mind cannot be equal to consciousness since without the mind, it is gone.
Yet is an unconscious mind aware? No, it cannot use the senses.
You'll find that using the senses one can find out a lot about the mind: it can experience phenomenon, both inner (of the mind) or outer (material). Also, the mind can experience phenomenon that has no existence outside fictional works be it in print, on the big and silver screen, especially video.
As well, the mind can be aware of the fact that every character and sentient being in a manga is a conscious entity and thus possesses consciousness, despite the fact that every character and sentient being have no physical existence apart from a poor sketch of each character.
Going further, since Amida Buddha has a cover story, it depicts a mythical king who pledged allegiance ot a Buddha of a bygone era before the historical Buddha, and consequently founded a Buddha world called "The Pure Land of Bliss." After many lifetimes he became the twin Buddhas, Amida Buddha and Amitayus Buddha (Boundless Light of Wisdom and Boundless Life of Compassion respectively. These twins meditated for many eons and soon merged as one, called Amida Buddha.
How is this related to awareness and consciousness? Metaphorically, awareness denote a generalization of the feeling of being aware that is shared between all sentient beings. In contrast, consciousness is the generalization of the feeling of being consciousness. Just as one can be conscious of having a mind, a mind can be aware of being conscious. Thus being conscious and being aware are almost alike just a Amida and Amitayus are alike and just as Wisdom and Compassion are alike.
Compassion applies being able to be selfless enough to lose self-consciousness. Ergo it is associated with awareness. Thus one can be aware of being compassionate, yet have an awareness of compassion.
Wisdom on the other hand applies to experiencing phenomenon from a personal point of view, must as being conscious is. Thus one can be conscious of being wise, and wisdom is thus the shared view of being wise.
Thus awareness of compassion is possible and being conscious of wisdom is too possible.
Likewise one can be aware of being wise, and be conscious of compassion.
Therefore wisdom and compassion are but two facets of the diamond mind.
20121231
Buddhism: The Toolkit of Consciousness
My lifelong experience with Buddhism has proven to me that being deeply spiritual requires suspension of disbelief, faith in subjective reality and the objectivity of reason.
The Buddha, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Dharma - these actually are actually processes contained in the mind to define, and to experience consciousness more fully. They are actuated through meditation.
Hence they are mind tools in the sense that they actually are used to explore the psychology of the mind. For all the discrete concepts of Buddhism represent at their core the many different facets of consciousness itself.
However, take care not to worship anything in Buddhism as a thing in itself. For Buddhism has no room for idolatry. It is essentially a toolkit that has been used for over 2500 years to explore the depths of consciousness.
Today, only fools consider Buddhism to be a religion like Christianity, and thus useless to the pursuit of profit. This flies in the face of daily proof that religious institutions actually gather together people of like mind to not only worship but also to profit from what amounts to a golden chain of love for each other's mutual good. For religious endeavor of any kind funded for spiritual profit is worthy of contribution, both financial and scholarly.
So, take what you want from what you learn about Buddhism to use as tools to explore consciousness, such as meditation and even the various layers of the consciousness as described in the Yogacara school of Buddhism.
I expect anyone reading this to do their research first. My blog contains enough clues to learn about the Buddha and what he symbolizes.
Even so, nobody is obliged to do so. All I ask is that anyone who wishes to walk on without careful research to avoid disrespecting the Buddha in a serious manner, because I might just show the fruit of your karma and make you eat it. >:)
Summary of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: http://www.acmuller.net/yogacara/outlines/YBh-summary-utf8.htm
Search for "self and other" in the above webpage.
The Buddha, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Dharma - these actually are actually processes contained in the mind to define, and to experience consciousness more fully. They are actuated through meditation.
Hence they are mind tools in the sense that they actually are used to explore the psychology of the mind. For all the discrete concepts of Buddhism represent at their core the many different facets of consciousness itself.
However, take care not to worship anything in Buddhism as a thing in itself. For Buddhism has no room for idolatry. It is essentially a toolkit that has been used for over 2500 years to explore the depths of consciousness.
Today, only fools consider Buddhism to be a religion like Christianity, and thus useless to the pursuit of profit. This flies in the face of daily proof that religious institutions actually gather together people of like mind to not only worship but also to profit from what amounts to a golden chain of love for each other's mutual good. For religious endeavor of any kind funded for spiritual profit is worthy of contribution, both financial and scholarly.
So, take what you want from what you learn about Buddhism to use as tools to explore consciousness, such as meditation and even the various layers of the consciousness as described in the Yogacara school of Buddhism.
I expect anyone reading this to do their research first. My blog contains enough clues to learn about the Buddha and what he symbolizes.
Even so, nobody is obliged to do so. All I ask is that anyone who wishes to walk on without careful research to avoid disrespecting the Buddha in a serious manner, because I might just show the fruit of your karma and make you eat it. >:)
Summary of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra: http://www.acmuller.net/yogacara/outlines/YBh-summary-utf8.htm
Search for "self and other" in the above webpage.
20101102
the mind continuum (Poem)
the mind arises and falls;
for birth is merely the mind
arising and death, its fall.
for birth is merely the mind
arising and death, its fall.
20100628
Letting go of Ego (poem)
Letting go of ego
being embraced by
Thusness, the wise ones cut through
delusion and view
Buddha Nature as Self Nature.
Holding onto ego,
letting go of Thusness,
the fool tightly clings
to delusion with all his might --
Phantasies are at his command!
Seeing ego as delusion,
calm mind is the mindful one's reward
for just sitting still --
with such purity of mind
one uncovers Buddha Nature.
With five senses arise
five consciousnesses with
the sixth reflecting upon these five,
to realize ego is impermanent,
the seventh consciousness is free
to view Alaya consciousness as Thusness,
leaving all eight empty of substance.
Not clinging to them at all,
one is liberated from samsara,
only to return to this world
to help others find the Way.
So let go of ego as self,
and cut through the delusion
of Alaya consciousness as soul
to uncover Buddha Nature
which is Self Nature for
both are empty of substance.
Thus does this foolish one
stop clinging to ego,
and all thought of soul transmigrating
is washed away by all waters
flowing into the Ocean of Mind,
that refreshes us all
with liberation from samsara.
being embraced by
Thusness, the wise ones cut through
delusion and view
Buddha Nature as Self Nature.
Holding onto ego,
letting go of Thusness,
the fool tightly clings
to delusion with all his might --
Phantasies are at his command!
Seeing ego as delusion,
calm mind is the mindful one's reward
for just sitting still --
with such purity of mind
one uncovers Buddha Nature.
With five senses arise
five consciousnesses with
the sixth reflecting upon these five,
to realize ego is impermanent,
the seventh consciousness is free
to view Alaya consciousness as Thusness,
leaving all eight empty of substance.
Not clinging to them at all,
one is liberated from samsara,
only to return to this world
to help others find the Way.
So let go of ego as self,
and cut through the delusion
of Alaya consciousness as soul
to uncover Buddha Nature
which is Self Nature for
both are empty of substance.
Thus does this foolish one
stop clinging to ego,
and all thought of soul transmigrating
is washed away by all waters
flowing into the Ocean of Mind,
that refreshes us all
with liberation from samsara.
20100617
Mind Has No Separate and Permanent Existence
Within context of dependent arising and the oneness of the spiritually awakened, the individual mind does not have a separate and permanence existence. Rather, the mind is shared between all living beings. This is the essence of emptiness.
As for the question of the differences between one person and another, they can be explained by the "shattered gem" hypothesis i.e. True Mind, being the Alaya Consciousness, has the ability to deposit in each living being a sliver of itself (Buddha Nature).
Why then are people ignorant of the mind as being one?
Spiritual ignorance leads one to think of the mind as being their own, separate from others. Thus, one of the purposes of meditation is to transform behavioral and mental negativities into their opposite to uncover the pure mind.
In uncovering the pure mind, one develops the siddhi mistakenly called "mind-reading" i.e. telepathy. The actual name for this siddhi is "knowing the mind of others". It is enhanced by careful observation of others.
The use of words (mantra) helps to awaken the mind to the possibility of telepathy.
At the root of telepathy is the siddhi of suggestion, which conditions the mind to being able to hear without ears and to speak without words. The mantra used for this purpose is found in the Flower Sermon.
According to the mundane world and its adherents, this revelation looks like madness.
Thus, it becomes a form of mysticism due to ignorance of the mundane; at the same time, it becomes a revealed truth to the spiritually awakened.
Anyone who is awakened yet chooses to misuse the gift of telepathy is not truly awakened, for such misuse closes one to true awakening.
For clinging to telepathy is at the root of its misuse, and leads the foolish to the delusion that one is truly awakened.
Therefore, the truly awakened will use the siddhi of telepathy to be helpful and of service to others.
As for the question of the differences between one person and another, they can be explained by the "shattered gem" hypothesis i.e. True Mind, being the Alaya Consciousness, has the ability to deposit in each living being a sliver of itself (Buddha Nature).
Why then are people ignorant of the mind as being one?
Spiritual ignorance leads one to think of the mind as being their own, separate from others. Thus, one of the purposes of meditation is to transform behavioral and mental negativities into their opposite to uncover the pure mind.
In uncovering the pure mind, one develops the siddhi mistakenly called "mind-reading" i.e. telepathy. The actual name for this siddhi is "knowing the mind of others". It is enhanced by careful observation of others.
The use of words (mantra) helps to awaken the mind to the possibility of telepathy.
At the root of telepathy is the siddhi of suggestion, which conditions the mind to being able to hear without ears and to speak without words. The mantra used for this purpose is found in the Flower Sermon.
According to the mundane world and its adherents, this revelation looks like madness.
Thus, it becomes a form of mysticism due to ignorance of the mundane; at the same time, it becomes a revealed truth to the spiritually awakened.
Anyone who is awakened yet chooses to misuse the gift of telepathy is not truly awakened, for such misuse closes one to true awakening.
For clinging to telepathy is at the root of its misuse, and leads the foolish to the delusion that one is truly awakened.
Therefore, the truly awakened will use the siddhi of telepathy to be helpful and of service to others.
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