That is not quite what I am saying. When there is arising of viññāṇa/citta in the context of the khandhas, it is not that the other khandhas are absent.Viscid wrote:So is the 'luminous mind' the awareness of viññāṇakkhandha when the other four khandhas are absent?
This is probably one reason why there are several differing ways in the suttas of talking about these things, such as the 18 dhātus or the various paticca-samuppāda formulas. "Dependent on the eye and the forms, eye-consciousness arises; the coming-together of the three is sense-impression."
This is not the easiest thing to talk about and for it make sense, but this - "Dependent on the eye and the forms, eye-consciousness arises; the coming-together of the three is sense-impression" - is not necessarily a theoretical statement, but it is something that can be seen, and it not that “eye-consciousness” is hanging out there all by itself. It in turn gives rise to all the rest. It is not a matter of the other khandhas being absent, but when the mind is concentrated, very mindful, this process can become clear.
Also, "luminous" is a metaphor for the fact that viññāṇa makes known, illuminates it object.