DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Karma From His Own Lips: by Ajahn Buddhadāsa

**BoattyGonm** · 07-02-2011, 06:15 AM

I don't think one needs to believe in (literal) rebirth or a "reborn consciousness" to find value in the alaya-vijnana paradigm. For me, at least, it's a practical teaching. Cultivate the wholesome seeds, avoid cultivating the unwholesome ones. Hold the view that all seeds will come to fruition in some way or another, in present or future, "my" life or another's.

Sure

But for me, there is no value because the Buddha already provided many teachings about morality & kammic inheritence.

From a meditation/liberation purpose, it is essential to comprehend consciousness & its objects. Bringing the mind to a state of bare awareness (bare consciousness) is the vehicle for insight & liberation.

Alaya is mind objects. Alaya is not mind consciousness. If the mind cannot discern/distinguish between mind consciousness and mind objects then insight & liberation is impossible.

This is why the only practical value you can define from the Yogacarins is a moral one. However, I can only suggest you consider for yourself the "morality" of altering the Buddha's liberative (supramundane) teachings for an egotistical motive of avoiding an unfavourable rebirth.

In experience, the mind can only discern six kinds of consciousness.

Kind regards

What is the mind? The mind isn't really any “thing”. Conventionally speaking, it's that which feels or senses. That which senses, receives and experiences all mental impressions is called “mind”.

Right at this moment there is mind. As I am speaking to you, the mind acknowledges what I am saying. Sounds enter through the ear and you know what is being said. That which experiences this is called “mind”.

This mind doesn't have any self or substance. It doesn't have any form. It just experiences mental activities, that's all!

If we teach this mind to have right view, this mind won't have any problems. It will be at ease.

The mind is mind. Mental objects are mental objects. Mental objects are not the mind, the mind is not mental objects.

In order to clearly understand our minds and the mental objects in our minds, we say that the mind is that which receives the mental objects which pop into it.

When these two things, mind and its object, come into contact with each other, they give rise to feelings. Some are good, some bad, some cold, some hot, all kinds! Without wisdom to deal with these feelings, however, the mind will be troubled.

Meditation is the way of developing the mind so that it may be a base for the arising of wisdom.

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/teachings_chah.pdf

07-02-2011, 06:15 AM	#30
BoattyGonm Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 434 Senior Member	I don't think one needs to believe in (literal) rebirth or a "reborn consciousness" to find value in the alaya-vijnana paradigm. For me, at least, it's a practical teaching. Cultivate the wholesome seeds, avoid cultivating the unwholesome ones. Hold the view that all seeds will come to fruition in some way or another, in present or future, "my" life or another's. Sure But for me, there is no value because the Buddha already provided many teachings about morality & kammic inheritence. From a meditation/liberation purpose, it is essential to comprehend consciousness & its objects. Bringing the mind to a state of bare awareness (bare consciousness) is the vehicle for insight & liberation. Alaya is mind objects. Alaya is not mind consciousness. If the mind cannot discern/distinguish between mind consciousness and mind objects then insight & liberation is impossible. This is why the only practical value you can define from the Yogacarins is a moral one. However, I can only suggest you consider for yourself the "morality" of altering the Buddha's liberative (supramundane) teachings for an egotistical motive of avoiding an unfavourable rebirth. In experience, the mind can only discern six kinds of consciousness. Kind regards What is the mind? The mind isn't really any “thing”. Conventionally speaking, it's that which feels or senses. That which senses, receives and experiences all mental impressions is called “mind”. Right at this moment there is mind. As I am speaking to you, the mind acknowledges what I am saying. Sounds enter through the ear and you know what is being said. That which experiences this is called “mind”. This mind doesn't have any self or substance. It doesn't have any form. It just experiences mental activities, that's all! If we teach this mind to have right view, this mind won't have any problems. It will be at ease. The mind is mind. Mental objects are mental objects. Mental objects are not the mind, the mind is not mental objects. In order to clearly understand our minds and the mental objects in our minds, we say that the mind is that which receives the mental objects which pop into it. When these two things, mind and its object, come into contact with each other, they give rise to feelings. Some are good, some bad, some cold, some hot, all kinds! Without wisdom to deal with these feelings, however, the mind will be troubled. Meditation is the way of developing the mind so that it may be a base for the arising of wisdom. http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/teachings_chah.pdf
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