What is the difference between infinite consciousness and the consciousness of the five aggregate?

[SarathW]

What is the difference between infinite consciousness and the consciousness of the five aggregate?

[dhammarelax]

What is the difference between infinite consciousness and the consciousness of the five aggregate?

The first is the second arupa jhana in which you feel that the infinite space is filled with consciousness, the second is awareness of the aggregates.

smile
dhammarelax

[SarathW]

Then what is infinite space?

[Zom]

The difference, as I see it, in restrictedness. Normal consciousness is restricted, while jhanic consciousness is enlarged up to the level of infinite consciousness. You can read about that in MN 127.

[SarathW]

Thanks Zom.
It make sense.
Is there any reason why Sutta does not talk about infinite feeling, perception or matter (Rupa)?

[Zom]

Is there any reason why Sutta does not talk about infinite feeling, perception or matter (Rupa)?

This is an interesting question. Probably because nama-rupa is different from consciousness, at least, this is always so in the suttas.
Or, maybe, as the second variant, infinite consiousness is not, indeed, an aggregate consiousness. In this case infinite consiousness will be the object of restricted aggregate consiousness and will include all "cosmic consiousnesses" of all never-ending living beings in unlimited Universe .) But here we plunge into pure speculation and go out of buddhist commentarial tradition.

[SarathW]

This is an interesting question. Probably because nama-rupa is different from consciousness

Is that because perception and feeling also a part of consciousness?
Then question still remain for Rupa?

[santa100]

Is that because perception and feeling also a part of consciousness?
Then question still remain for Rupa?

If we look at the sequence of meditation from the 4 Rupa jhanas to the 4 ARupa attainments as processes for tranquilizing/harmonizing their respective domains, then it should address the question:

1. No infinite Rupa, for it's already been tranquilized in the 4th clause of the first tetrad of Anapanasati ("one shall breathe in/out tranquillizing bodily formation").

2. No infinite Vedana/Sanna for they've been tranquilized in the 4th clause of the second tetrad ("one shall breathe in/out tranquillizing mental formation [feeling and perception]")

[SarathW]

tranquillizing

Isn't the consciousness tranquillize in fourth Jhana?

[santa100]

A "tranquillized consciousness" migth potentially has some misleading connotation. It's more like "bright and pure", as described in another thread here. And since it's bright and pure, it sets up the Arupa stage, sort of the opening to the dimension of infinite consciousness.

[SarathW]

Thanks Santa.

[santa100]

[SarathW]

Perhaps another point to support what Santa already pointed out:

Puthujana (run of the mill person) is not tranquilize the Rupa and Vedana.
So he is trying to investigate the infinite worlds (Rupa) and infinite sensual pleasures.
Is this a fair argument?

[Zom]

Is that because perception and feeling also a part of consciousness?

Feeling and perception is not a part of consciousness. They are a part of nama.

[SarathW]

Is that because perception and feeling also a part of consciousness?

Feeling and perception is not a part of consciousness. They are a part of nama.

"Feeling, perception, & consciousness are conjoined, friend, not disjoined. It is not possible, having separated them one from another, to delineate the difference among them. For what one feels, that one perceives. What one perceives, that one cognizes. Therefore these qualities are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is not possible, having separated them one from another, to delineate the difference among them."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html