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**krasniyluch** · 11-01-2011, 10:46 PM

I think "stream of consciousness" describes something a little different. Keep in mind that it is a metaphor, not intended to claim that there is actually a "stream" that really exists somewhere. Present conditions are brought about by past conditions, and future conditions arise from the present ones. There is a quasi-causal continuum of phenomena, but phenomena are not entities. The mind evolved to be what is is because it helped our ancestors survive. The mind is less concerned with truth than survival. A useful fiction will survive as long as it aids survival and reproductive competitiveness. Nevertheless, there is the possibility of understanding what the mind is doing and seeing the fiction for what it is, I think. And I think that's what the Buddha was trying to teach us how to do.

It is still difficult to point to a stream of consciousness any time that consciousness is a point discrete moment which arise in contact with its object. Eye-consciousness is a discrete moment as mind-consciousness is. Once the object is absent and contact fades, consciousness ceases. It can't continue in a way of a stream.

Mindfulness, meditation discovers that discrete and point aspect of a moment of consciousness with out leaving an stream. IMO, clinging and craving leads to the idea of a stream that sound like something everlasting, when it is not.

11-01-2011, 10:46 PM	#16
krasniyluch Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 487 Senior Member	I think "stream of consciousness" describes something a little different. Keep in mind that it is a metaphor, not intended to claim that there is actually a "stream" that really exists somewhere. Present conditions are brought about by past conditions, and future conditions arise from the present ones. There is a quasi-causal continuum of phenomena, but phenomena are not entities. The mind evolved to be what is is because it helped our ancestors survive. The mind is less concerned with truth than survival. A useful fiction will survive as long as it aids survival and reproductive competitiveness. Nevertheless, there is the possibility of understanding what the mind is doing and seeing the fiction for what it is, I think. And I think that's what the Buddha was trying to teach us how to do. It is still difficult to point to a stream of consciousness any time that consciousness is a point discrete moment which arise in contact with its object. Eye-consciousness is a discrete moment as mind-consciousness is. Once the object is absent and contact fades, consciousness ceases. It can't continue in a way of a stream. Mindfulness, meditation discovers that discrete and point aspect of a moment of consciousness with out leaving an stream. IMO, clinging and craving leads to the idea of a stream that sound like something everlasting, when it is not.
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