Thanks for replying!
you say: <A lot of ink has been wasted over the issue of self-awareness, reflexive awareness, and similar. The thing is that all these problems are imaginary. Same as the lamp does not have to illuminate itself in order to be able to illuminate other objects, the mind does not have to cognize itself in order to be able to cognize other objects (and the sword does not have to cut itself in order to be able to cut other objects, and the finger does not need to touch itself in order to be able to touch other things, and so on).> Does this mean that the brain cannot be the mind - that they are effectively separate entities? As neither can Self Cognize? Tony... --- In [email protected], Alex Bunard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- sx3tony <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hi All! > > > > Can someone explain the nature of the mind and its > > relationship with > > the brain? > > I can only give it a try: > > The mind is a dependently originated phenomenon that > is defined in relation to the objects of cognition. > The objects of cognition (i.e. manifested phenomena) > cannot arise without the mind, and conversely, the > mind cannot arise without the objects of cognition. > > As such, both are devoid of any substantiality and > reality. > > A lot of ink has been wasted over the issue of > self-awareness, reflexive awareness, and similar. The > thing is that all these problems are imaginary. Same > as the lamp does not have to illuminate itself in > order to be able to illuminate other objects, the mind > does not have to cognize itself in order to be able to > cognize other objects (and the sword does not have to > cut itself in order to be able to cut other objects, > and the finger does not need to touch itself in order > to be able to touch other things, and so on). > > The mind simply cognizes. The lamp does not have to > illuminate itself for the simple reason that darkness > does not darken it. Darkness may darken other objects > (i.e. objects of cognition), but when the light of the > lamp shines forth, darkness cannot darken it. If it > could, we would witness the birth of an infinite > regress, because then the lamp would need its > meta-lamp to illuminate it and ensure that it can > function as a lamp. But then that meta-lamp, that > illuminates the first lamp, will need its own > meta-lamp, and so on. Vitious cycle. > > In the Buddhist teaching, the mind is viewed as simply > functioning perfectly, with no impediments whatsoever. > > Alex > > > No karma was produced during the composition of this letter > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Make Yahoo! your home page > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/WwRTUD/SOnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
