… What is the nature of that mind that knows this? - orn “Empty” – e Would you like to share anything about your experience(s) and/or direct apprehension of emptiness? Is this possible? What is at the base (underneath) all words and concepts? - orn “.Nothing (see * below). There is no base where consciousness lands. Consciousness releases. Buddha used the metaphor of fire unbound. When the fuel (of grasping) is exhausted, where does the fire go when it goes out? The question is nonsensical. In this unbound analogy, we cannot speak of luminosity et al.” – e
Here I am not talking about either a place ‘where consciousness lands’ nor the process of consciousness. I am looking at that which doesn’t move. And, while consciousness can be seen as a container, (see below ***) here too this is not exactly what I am pointing toward. So, as far as I understand it, the notion of grasping isn’t involved. If something is “conceived” as being permanent, is that conception itself permanent? - orn "Of course not, wait around long enough and it will disappear." - e (I asked the question about ‘conceived’ due to your post of: “… EVERYTHING is seen as impermanent and let go of. Not to then land on some other thing that is conceived as permanent but just let go at grasping for permanence.” e, in case you were interested. ) Overall, I agree with your analysis of non-permanence in this context. “What in your experience is permanent Orn? “ – e Specific states…again, words belie the experience. I’ve pointed at Gautama’s indictive to “Look for that which does not move.”, this would be one example. “…I agree it is not thinking. However, I don’t know about this eternalism. Buddha was emphatic about the 2 extremes of eternalism and annihilationism to be avoided for the middle way to be found. He did not say they needed to be avoided to then find some other kind of uber eternalism.” – e As I understand that tenet system, Gautama was talking about the GRASPING of those extremes. No? - orn “http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.015.than.html Nagarjuna mentions this sutra in MMK XV. Is the permanent basis of the mind (the minds true nature) an eternal essence? If it is, are we still talking about Buddhism?” - e e, as much as I appreciate this sort of comparison and analysis of cannons, since the majority of Nagarjuna is lost and the words of Gautama were not penned that we know of until hundreds of years after his death, I equate this sort of study with similar Christian studies and only observe and/or play it on occasion. In general, I don’t hold much importance when it comes to texts. There are exceptions however this is not one of them. And, as I’ve said, I’m not as keen on the middle way as I am on mind only. The latter appears to be more accurate to me. In any case, we both know how unmonolithic Buddhism is. As said, while I appreciate scholarship and do study some, I do not embrace revelation by using any ‘holy-text’. I more adhere to what I find in practice. This is a long winded “I don’t know.” To your last two questions above and have no interest in concocting an ontology around it. I read the entire link and remain perplexed as to your intention in posting it. When you said “ *Right but the way I see it, they just disappear, they don’t disappear into some large container called mind.” - e Yes, that is one type of experience. I find they return on occasion too. *** I’m more talking about Alaya Consciousness. The notion of a container is quite compatible with some Buddhist Schools. Again, thanks for the opportunity to learn e.!!! On Nov 11, 3:11 pm, e <[email protected]> wrote: > Is true nature a state of an impermanent mind? In what way is it not > (if any)? If the true nature is empty and impermanent, how can there > be eternalism? It seems Buddha proffered a radical impermanence so > that EVERYTHING is seen as impermanent and let go of. Not to then > land > on some other thing that is conceived as permanent but just let go at > grasping for permanence.” – e > > All excellent questions and areas to explore e. And, I’m not sure I > can answer them well. I will say that you appear to be taking a > dialectical stance here…more accurately, using formal logic when it > comes to permanent/impermanent. - orn > > I am only trying to talk about Buddhism as clearly and simply as > possible. > > Continuing a commentary on your query, I will use some Socratic > questions. When all is apprehended as being impermanent, what is > apprehending? - orn > > Apprehension > > What is the nature of that mind that knows this? - orn > > Empty > > What is at the base (underneath) all words and concepts? - orn > > Nothing (see * below). There is no base where consciousness lands. > Consciousness releases. Buddha used the metaphor of fire unbound. When > the fuel (of grasping) is exhausted, where does the fire go when it > goes out? The question is nonsensical. In this unbound analogy, we > cannot speak of luminosity et al. > > If something is “conceived” as being permanent, is that conception > itself permanent? - orn > > Of course not, wait around long enough and it will disappear. > > - > > “Yes but there is a state of mind that is permanent? Really? …” – e > > Yes. - orn > > What in your experience is permanent Orn? > > - > > “…I agree it is not thinking. However, I don’t know about this > eternalism. Buddha was emphatic about the 2 extremes of eternalism > and > annihilationism to be avoided for the middle way to be found. He did > not say they needed to be avoided to then find some other kind of > uber > eternalism.” – e > > As I understand that tenet system, Gautama was talking about the > GRASPING of those extremes. No? - orn > > http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.015.than.html > Nagarjuna mentions this sutra in MMK XV. Is the permanent basis of the > mind (the minds true nature) an eternal essence? If it is, are we > still talking about Buddhism? > > - > > “…I really am just exploring and looking for some new meaning and > not > trying to destroy any old ones, etc. Lately I have come to see that > everything is an interpretation so I am only questioning the old > interpretations and seeing if they still hold up, etc. Thanks for > going along!! “ – e > > The metaphor of exploring is quite appropriate and accurate. While > one > is ‘on the path’, differing levels of understanding will arise, stay > for a bit and then recede… and finally disappear. - orn > > *Right but the way I see it, they just disappear, they don’t disappear > into some large container called mind. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. 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