[PPActionnGuys]

Hello,

I regard nama-rupa as name-and-matter, i.e. as matter and its "name" (appearance). As far as I can see it has nothing to do with the dualism of mind/body or subject/object.

It has been already pointed out that nama-rupa (together with vinnana) can be internal and/or external. Internal nama-rupa is this body, i.e. the six senses as they appear, and external nama-rupa is the corresponding environment (as it appears).

It is only under the influence of nescience that this dyad of internal/external is regarded as subject-experiencing-objects (e.g. "I see forms with my eyes"). This means that any understanding of sense-consciousness that is based on the assumption that "I am (as or via my senses) in contact with things" is erroneous.

Consciousness (vinnana) is said to depend on nama-rupa (and vice versa), which means that consciousness is always consciousness of something. This "something" is nama-rupa, i.e. apparent matter (internally and externally).

With this in mind it can be understood why it would be wrong to regard eye-, ear-, nose-, tongue-, body- and mind-consciousness as an "output" or "emanation" of the senses "stimulated" by an environment. Because both the senses and the environment are nama-rupa, i.e. they are already apparent and therefore already conscious, since nama-rupa and vinnana arise and cease together.

So eye-consciousness is consciousness of an eye and the forms which arise in dependence of that eye; ear-consciousness is consciousness of an ear and the sounds that arise in dependence of that ear (and so on). Internal and external nama-rupa arise and cease together, but their relation (which is not a matter of time) is such that nama-rupa internally (the senses) gives rise to nama-rupa externally (environment), but both internal and external nama-rupa are that "something" which consciousness is "of".

This is my current understanding of the matter. I am fully aware that this topic is understood differently by others, but I just wanted to share my thoughts with you.

Thank you for your attention!

Best wishes,

Phygro