Consciousness arises when the six senses are in contact with its object of consiousness. Eye consiousness for colors... and mind consiousness for ideas being mind just another sense organ. With out contact consiousness ceases. We can not avoid sense contact but we can be mindful of craving, clinging and self identification when contact happens along each khandha. Cessation in this terms should be understood as quenching or extinguishing of the fire of craving and self identification. The Pail term is Nirodha. Yes, he was an Arahat and outstanding teacher. I am not a psychologist but many schools are grounded in the idea of a "Self". Non self doctrine threatens them very much. Again, cessation is about quenching or extinguishing self identification, craving, clinging with such function; for each khanda. Please quote that... I still haven't gone through that statement in any of the few suttas I have read. No problem tijampel. Indeed I know I am not the best one making this things clear. Hope other members with more experience with the early teachings of Buddha can be of more help. Again, Buddha explains it much more clearly, here: Kind wishes tj