Diggin' the Dharma Conscious of Consciousness
Nov 24, 2024
Explore the intriguing nature of consciousness and its relation to self and identity. Discover six types of consciousness and how they connect lifetimes. Delve into the tension between subjective experience and causality. Unearth how different traditions view consciousness and discuss the role of awareness in everyday actions. Learn how consciousness can be shaped by focus and perception, including the fascinating concept of optical illusions. Join the hosts as they map out the five aggregates to enhance your understanding of conscious experience.
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Consciousness As Process And Appearance
- Early Buddhism treats consciousness as six sense-specific processes that arise and pass due to causes and conditions.
- Consciousness functions causally but also includes the subjective 'way things appear' that puzzles philosophers.
No Permanent Self In Consciousness
- The consciousness aggregate links moments and, in traditional texts, links lifetimes through causal continuity rather than sameness.
- The Buddha denies a permanent self in consciousness and emphasizes its dependent origination.
Use Inquiry To Loosen Identification
- Drop the pronoun habit by asking "who" or "where" when you notice an identifying thought arise during practice.
- Use inquiry in meditation to loosen identification with the one who is conscious.