Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

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sentinel
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Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by sentinel »

Hi guys ,

It seems the text doesn't provide any definition on the mind ?! Or does it ?
According to Buddha's teachings what meaning is the mind ?
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dharmacorps
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by dharmacorps »

I don't believe so. I also don't believe he defined consciousness-- although Abhidhamma fans will cite things.
SarathW
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by SarathW »

James Tan wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:48 pm Hi guys ,

It seems the text doesn't provide any definition on the mind ?! Or does it ?
According to Buddha's teachings what meaning is the mind ?
What is the Pali word for the mind?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
sentinel
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by sentinel »

SarathW wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:10 pm

What is the Pali word for the mind?






Mind (mano) is internal sense base and
mind object is external sense base .

The resultant of the sense bases meeting ~ is the consciousness (here is mind consciousness) .

Notice that :
consciousness (viññāṇa) is separate (and arises) from mind (mano) .


Here, consciousness cognizes or is aware of its specific sense base (including the mind and mind objects)


However , mano is Not in the list of five aggregates . Nor the citta was mentioned as one of the five aggregates . Also , Both never mentioned in the paticcasamuppada .
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retrofuturist
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings James,

This may assist...
SN 47.42 wrote:"From the origination of name-&-form is the origination of the mind. From the cessation of name-&-form is the cessation of the mind."
Thus, just as in the Dhamma we are taught to see consciousness as something that arises and passes away, rather than "the consciousness", so too with that which may be mistakenly regarded as "the mind".

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by cappuccino »

retrofuturist wrote: Thus, just as in the Dhamma we are taught to see consciousness as something that arises and passes away, rather than "the consciousness", so too with that which may be mistakenly regarded as "the mind".
types of consciousness arise and cease
Last edited by cappuccino on Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:22 am, edited 2 times in total.
chownah
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by chownah »

dharmacorps wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:30 pm I don't believe so. I also don't believe he defined consciousness-- although Abhidhamma fans will cite things.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
"And why do you call it 'consciousness'? Because it cognizes, thus it is called consciousness. What does it cognize? It cognizes what is sour, bitter, pungent, sweet, alkaline, non-alkaline, salty, & unsalty. Because it cognizes, it is called consciousness."
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
"'Consciousness, consciousness': Thus is it said. To what extent, friend, is it said to be 'consciousness'?"

"'It cognizes, it cognizes': Thus, friend, it is said to be 'consciousness.' And what does it cognize? It cognizes 'pleasant.' It cognizes 'painful.' It cognizes 'neither painful nor pleasant.' 'It cognizes, it cognizes': Thus it is said to be 'consciousness.'"
The mind is one of the sense bases....it is not defined just like the eye, ear, tongue, nose, body (the other five sense bases) are not defined.
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cappuccino
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by cappuccino »

chownah wrote: The mind is one of the sense bases....
where is this teaching?
form
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by form »

cappuccino wrote: Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:22 am
chownah wrote: The mind is one of the sense bases....
where is this teaching?
One of the six door senses i think.
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cappuccino
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by cappuccino »

form wrote: One of the six door senses i think.
why would you think this?
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by SarathW »

James Tan wrote: Sat Feb 16, 2019 1:52 am
SarathW wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:10 pm

What is the Pali word for the mind?

Mind (mano) is internal sense base and
mind object is external sense base .

The resultant of the sense bases meeting ~ is the consciousness (here is mind consciousness) .

Notice that :
consciousness (viññāṇa) is separate (and arises) from mind (mano) .


Here, consciousness cognizes or is aware of its specific sense base (including the mind and mind objects)


However , mano is Not in the list of five aggregates . Nor the citta was mentioned as one of the five aggregates . Also , Both never mentioned in the paticcasamuppada .
Didn't Buddha say that five aggregates are the all?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
form
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by form »

cappuccino wrote: Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:30 am
form wrote: One of the six door senses i think.
why would you think this?
Technically. If it is just based on the operations of six sense bases.

If based on thereotically, it is aggregates after aggregates, forming and disintegrating.
SarathW
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by SarathW »

James Tan wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:48 pm Hi guys ,

It seems the text doesn't provide any definition on the mind ?! Or does it ?
According to Buddha's teachings what meaning is the mind ?
I think Cula Vedalla and Mahavedalla Sutta address this matter in MN43 an MN44

“They speak of ‘consciousness’. How is consciousness defined?”

“It’s called consciousness because it cognizes. And what does it cognize? It cognizes ‘pleasure’ and ‘pain’ and ‘neutral’. It’s called consciousness because it cognizes.”

“Wisdom and consciousness—are these things mixed or separate? And can we completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them?” “Wisdom and consciousness—these things are mixed, not separate. And you can never completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them. For you understand what you cognize, and you cognize what you understand. That’s why these things are mixed, not separate. And you can never completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them.”

“Wisdom and consciousness—what is the difference between these things that are mixed, not separate?” “The difference between these things is that wisdom should be developed, while consciousness should be completely understood.”

https://suttacentral.net/mn-culayamakavagga
Last edited by SarathW on Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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sentinel
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by sentinel »

retrofuturist wrote: Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:15 am Greetings James,

This may assist...
SN 47.42 wrote:"From the origination of name-&-form is the origination of the mind. From the cessation of name-&-form is the cessation of the mind."
Thus, just as in the Dhamma we are taught to see consciousness as something that arises and passes away, rather than "the consciousness", so too with that which may be mistakenly regarded as "the mind".

Metta,
Paul. :)
Hello retro ,

Just like eye consciousness is Not eyes itself .
(A dead person has eyes but No eye consciousness)

I am not talking about Consciousness as the Mind .

The question is about mind / mano ( the base ) which gives rise to mind consciousness .

Where is the "base" number six ?

What is it that called the "base" number six ?
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sentinel
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Re: Does the Buddha ever define "mind" ?

Post by sentinel »

chownah wrote: Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:20 am
The mind is one of the sense bases....it is not defined just like the eye, ear, tongue, nose, body (the other five sense bases) are not defined.
chownah
Sure , but everyone can know can touch can see what is the eye ear nose tongue body with certainty without any problems ! However , I am sure none of us can determine what and where is the mind base without doubt and hesitation ! We may guess only .
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