[Catalogov]

I've asked a few Buddhists these questions and I've only received vague answers if any answer at all. But if I can find out more about what the unconditioned is, the easier for me. So please don't hold out on me, guys.
-What is the unconditioned?
-Some people call it the mind. But it can't be the human mind because the human mind is conditioned. is it the human mind or is it something else?
-How can I see the unconditioned?
-A lot of Buddhists talk about something called Dharmakaya, Empty Light, Buddha Nature, unfabricated space, unborn nature, etc. Are these names for the unconditioned?
-Does the unconditioned still need a human body to exist?
-Is the unconditioned eternal and stable?

Being in the dark about this is rather uncomfortable. Please don't tell me "find out and see" because I don't know what I'm even looking for.
Thank you, guys.

[shenacatro]

What is the unconditioned?

The 'unconditioned' means 'Nibbana' - freedom from the suffering of attachment and greed, hatred and delusion .

Studying and practising the historical Buddha's core teachings as well as regular meditation practice can help us to understand that Nibanna is possible in this lifetime, rather than imagining it to be an unobtainable fantasy.

[arerrurrY]

I may be wrong but from what I understand Unconditioned is merely an adjective, which is applied to something that is not subject to causes and conditions.

As everything is subject to causes except Nibbana then Nibbana is called "the Unconditioned". So Nibbana is achieved when all causes and conditions leading up to it have worked themselves out and Nibbana is not maintained by causes and conditions, which means someone cannot "drop out" of Nibbana.

The questions in the OP appear to assume something solid or seperate which is not the case.

[wpFWNoIt]

For my mind, these are really good questions to be asking, ScaredOne .. and I am not ONLY saying this because they are the kind of questions which motivated me to begin investigating Buddhist thought and eventually practice.

What is important for me, and this is very consistent with the core teachings, my relationship with Mahayana understandings and reality, is that we can not know for sure what will happen after our human body ceases to exist ( and it will ), so relying and focusing on understandings about after this life will always be speculative and is not necessary for us to do.

[pageup85]

IWhat is the unconditioned?
-Some people call it the mind. But it can't be the human mind because the human mind is conditioned. is it the human mind or is it something else?

hello again, ScaredOne

the unconditioned is not the mind but it does refer to the mind that is not conditioned by emotions & thoughts

a simple example is pure water. the pure water is not conditioned by impurities, such as dirt, colour, flavours, etc

the term "unconditioned" refers to the quality of the water rather than to the water itself

similarly, as the mind has the nature to know & experience, when the mind is free from emotions & thoughts, experiencing this is experiencing the unconditioned

kind regards

element

[tooratrack]

This quote from Ajahn Chah might be helpful in Chapter 4 of ''The Island - An Anthology of the Buddha's Teachings on Nibbana'' by Ajahn Pasano and Ajahn Amaro

The Buddha talked about sankhata dhammas and asankhata dhammas - conditioned and unconditioned things. Conditioned things are innumerable - material or immaterial, big or small - if our mind is under the influence of delusion, it will proliferate about these things, dividing them up into good and bad, short and long, coarse and refined.

Why does the mind proliferate like this ? Because it doesn't know conventional determinate reality, it doesn't know about conditions. Not knowing these things, the mind doesn't see the Dhamma. Not seeing the Dhamma, the mind is full of clinging. As long as the mind is held down by clinging, there can be no escape from the conditioned world....

Asankhata dhamma, the unconditioned, refers to the mind that has seen the Dhamma, the truth of the five khandhas as they are - as transient, imperfect and ownerless. All ideas of 'me' and 'mine', 'them' and 'theirs' belong to the determined reality. Really they are all conditions.

When we let go of conditions we attain the Dhamma, we enter into and realise the Dhamma.

http://www.abhayagiri.org/main/book/1788/

[craditc]

alright. thanks for clearing some things up for me, guys. I should probably give up trying to find stability in life, since there never will be any at all. After about 3 rough years of unfortunate events and harsh and sorrowful relationships, I'm just at a stage in life where I'm beginning to wonder if such life is worth the suffering, as hamlet said once to himself:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--
No more--and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished.

I find this part of Hamlet's train of thought to be charged with Buddhist ideology; To end suffering. I don't wish to die, if that's what you're thinking. If I wanted to die, I would have already done so. But I feel trapped in this mortal coil called the body, and in this turbulent sea called life. My mind is tired of racing at a million miles per hour and tired of dealing with arguments, losses, anger, stress; Of always having to be right, and of being wrong. And most of all fear, the most fatal demon to invade one's presence. There is a longing for peace, silence, stability, permanence. It is ironic, however, because at the same time there is a fear of being stuck in the peace, silence, stability, permanence for all of eternity. like I want to put a rope around myself and go into the black void so I can come out safe and sound to finally be able to enjoy music again, to love my work, and to be carefree once again. But I know that's not possible, to tie a rope around oneself and come back from it. So It's a dramatically comedic situation: I'm scared of what I want. That's why I started Buddhism, really.

So this is a crisis, indeed. But in my search for a teacher, I found a wise man who said that great opportunity comes from crisis. In the times where we are most desperate, we are most ripe for positive change. Yes I am scared of boundless emptiness (the physical one, not dependent origination) that could swallow me whole and be the end of me. But this doesn't stop me. I did not choose ScaredOne as my name out of pity, and I do not sit in bed feeling sorry for myself and regretting the past. I chose the name because it is the truth. I AM scared of what lies ahead in my spiritual journey, but that won't stop me.

Regarding buddha nature: I've listened to Ajahn Brahm several times. Not only does he have a comedic attitude that actually makes me laugh, when most things in Buddhism still scare me, but he spoke of the Jhana meditation. I'm interested because he spoke of not feeling body and losing the mind. I want to ask you how I go to Jhana. I'll plug my ears and cover my eyes with a cloth. But if any of you can tell me what process should I go mentally to achieve Jhana, That would help even more.

Thank you.

[royarnekara]

I've listened to Ajahn Brahm several times. Not only does he have a comedic attitude that actually makes me laugh, when most things in Buddhism still scare me, but he spoke of the Jhana meditation. I'm interested because he spoke of not feeling body and losing the mind. I want to ask you how I go to Jhana. I'll plug my ears and cover my eyes with a cloth. But if any of you can tell me what process should I go mentally to achieve Jhana, That would help even more
Hi ScaredOne

I'm wondering if perhaps you need to take one step at a time and try to establish a regular basic Buddhist meditation practice first, before wanting Jhanas.

There's a meditation thread in our Study Links section at the bottom of the main forums page which might be helpful to you.

with kind wishes

Aloka

[Caregrasy]

thank you very much. I'm currently making it a nightly ritual to sit by candle light every night and recite Om shanti Shanti Om as a mantra to relax my mind, if only for a second or two. I'll keep doing that but I'll add see what the meditation forum has in store for me.

I apologize for bringing my problems to this site, and thank you

[melissa]

I want to ask you how I go to Jhana. I'll plug my ears and cover my eyes with a cloth. But if any of you can tell me what process should I go mentally to achieve Jhana, That would help even more.

dear Scared One

i can certainly tell you the process for jhana.

1. watching natural breathing, until the mind become stable & calm. when the mind can be stable & calm at will, then:

2. stop watching breathing, let go of the will, let the mind go into natural stillness & quiet; never classifying any experience as 'positive' or 'negative'; never grasping at any experience

this is the way to jhana

jhana is stillness. the happiness of jhana is born of stillness; when the turbulent mental formations in the physical body have been purified & stilled, the mind is free from the weight of the physical body & the nervous becomes enraptured with bliss

to start meditation, it is best to start practising with others, in a dhamma or meditation centre

the spiritual journey must start with faith & trust. all genuine outcomes are states of liberation & freedom

kind regards

element

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