Is there a mind ?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
sentinel
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Is there a mind ?

Post by sentinel »

We know the six sense media is the mind .
But , we don’t know what mind is ?
Maybe we know the description as described by others . But , are you certain about it ?
Could it be we took for granted ? !
Can someone provide some explanation ?


Thank you .
You always gain by giving
SarathW
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by SarathW »

Is there a fire?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
sentinel
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by sentinel »

SarathW wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:47 am Is there a fire?
Fire can be seen by everyone , whereas , mind or would you say the experiencer itself is not grasp able .
You always gain by giving
SarathW
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by SarathW »

James Tan wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 9:43 am
SarathW wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:47 am Is there a fire?
Fire can be seen by everyone , whereas , mind or would you say the experiencer itself is not grasp able .
What about wind, electricity etc?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
sentinel
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by sentinel »

What about your questions ?
You always gain by giving
SarathW
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by SarathW »

What I am saying is the mind also like fire, wind, and electricity.
They all are dependently originated phenomena.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
auto
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by auto »

https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/ ... uences.htm
viññāṇapaccayā nāmaṁ,
with consciousness as condition: mind,
also look clinging aggregates,

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
"Sustained by/clinging to the six properties, there is an alighting of an embryo.
There being an alighting, there is name-&-form.
From name-&-form as a requisite condition come the six sense media.
From the six sense media as a requisite condition comes contact.
From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling.
then comes
To one experiencing feeling I declare, 'This is stress.' I declare, 'This is the origination of stress.' I declare, 'This is the cessation of stress.' I declare, 'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.'
how its 5 clinging aggregates? its said in next paragraph
"And what is the noble truth of stress? Birth is stressful, aging is stressful, death is stressful; sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair are stressful; association with what is not loved is stressful, separation from what is loved is stressful, not getting what is wanted is stressful. In short, the five clinging-aggregates are stressful. This is called the noble truth of stress.
so the 5 aggregate are what makes up a being, the being there actually is a followup in DO chain. What i thought 5 aggregates are like sand that makes up a being..hmm

(imo, a proof that sense of self is required for further progress)
justindesilva
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by justindesilva »

SarathW wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:25 am What I am saying is the mind also like fire, wind, and electricity.
They all are dependently originated phenomena.
The truth of the mind can be observed by DP1 , as
Manopybbangama damma mano setta manomaya.....
which states that mind is the fore runner of all mental and physical acts. Here mind consists as vingnana and citta. Cetasica are the constituents of citta damma. Cetasika which can come under 52 wholesome , unwholesome and neutral cetasikas form wholesome and unwholesome or neutral karma .
The formation of kamma depends on wholesome or unwholesome thoughts or a mind. A clear example of peace or light hearted mind can be observed physically through maithri or metta meditation.
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Virgo
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by Virgo »

James Tan wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:35 am We know the six sense media is the mind .
But , we don’t know what mind is ?
Different types of consciousness rely on different rūpas but mental consciousness arises based on a subtle rūpa in the heart.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dha ... pics/28744

All the best, :anjali:

Kevin...
Last edited by Virgo on Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:13 am, edited 2 times in total.
dharmacorps
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by dharmacorps »

Not sure this helps, but Ajahn Amaro recently gave a talk that I listened to which was titled something like "The mind is not a person".
SavakaNik
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by SavakaNik »

This question comes from wrong view.
SarathW
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by SarathW »

SavakaNik wrote: Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:25 pm This question comes from wrong view.
If I ask "Is there a rock", is that also wrong view?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Spaciousness
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by Spaciousness »

Gateless Gate, Case 41

Bodhidharma sat facing the wall.

The Second Patriarch stood in the snow.

He cut off his arm and presented it to Bodhidharma, crying, “My mind has no peace as yet! I beg you, master, please pacify my mind!”

“Bring your mind here and I will pacify it for you,” replied Bodhidharma.

“I have searched for my mind, and I cannot take hold of it,” said the Second Patriarch.

“Now your mind is pacified,” said Bodhidharma.
pegembara
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by pegembara »

What is the mind?
noun
1. the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
2. a person's ability to think and reason; the intellect.

Is it some kind of a 'self'? The 'knower', 'experiencer', 'thinker'. The 'one' who sees/hears/smells/taste/touch/feels/thinks/acts/imagines.

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/wha ... steps/5172
The panics then led to a sort of a despair because the further thought was, well, if that is the case, that I'm just going to be snuffed out for eternity, then what's the point of doing anything while I'm here? It's all going to come to nothing. And I'm not going to be here to experience any reward or pleasure from what I've achieved, so why achieve anything?
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
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Virgo
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Re: Is there a mind ?

Post by Virgo »

James, for additional reading you might enjoy this book:

https://www.dhammahome.com/book_en/topic/22

:anjali: Kevin
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