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22 Jul 2022    Friday     1st Teach Total 3659

How to Correctly Understand the Aggregate of Consciousness (Part 3)

Original text from the Scripture of Upholding the World: The aggregate of consciousness is unreal and insubstantial, corresponding to inversion. It arises from the dharmas of seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing. Within this, there is no real agent of consciousness. If one cannot contemplate this reality as it is, one may give rise to wholesome consciousness, unwholesome consciousness, or both wholesome and unwholesome consciousness. Such a person is constantly led by consciousness, unaware of the source from which consciousness arises, unaware of the true nature of consciousness.

Explanation: The aggregate of consciousness is unreal, not a truly existent dharma; it is a dharma born of false perception, corresponding to the inverted mind that perceives existence within non-existence. It arises due to the dharmas capable of seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing. Within the so-called seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing, there is no real mind of consciousness performing these functions. If one cannot contemplate the aggregate of consciousness in accordance with reality like this, one will give rise to the aggregate of consciousness that creates wholesome dharmas, or the aggregate that creates unwholesome dharmas, or the aggregate that creates both wholesome and unwholesome dharmas. Such a person's mind is constantly revolving along with the aggregate of consciousness, unaware of the place from which the aggregate of consciousness arises, unaware of the true characteristics of the aggregate of consciousness.

Original text: Upholding the World, the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, herein, contemplates correctly thus: Knowing that the aggregate of consciousness arises from unreal consciousness, meaning it arises from the multitude of conditions within the dharmas of seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing. Because [sentient beings] perceive dharmas where there are none, they become attached to the aggregate of consciousness. When these Bodhisattvas contemplate in accordance with reality, they know the aggregate of consciousness is unreal and insubstantial, and that it has never been born since the very beginning. They know that what has no nature is called the aggregate of consciousness, that the aggregate of volition is the aggregate of consciousness, that the illusory aggregates are the aggregate of consciousness.

Explanation: Upholding the World, the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, within the functions of seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing, is able to correctly contemplate the aggregate of consciousness in accordance with reality. They understand that the aggregate of consciousness arises from unreal consciousness, meaning that within the dharmas of seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing, the aggregate of consciousness arises due to a multitude of conditions. Sentient beings perceive dharmas where there are none, giving rise to the notion of dharmas, and thus become attached to the aggregate of consciousness. When the great Bodhisattvas contemplate in accordance with reality like this, they know the aggregate of consciousness is unreal and insubstantial, and that it has never been born since the very beginning. They also know that what has no inherent nature or characteristic is called the aggregate of consciousness, know that the aggregate of volition with its flowing thoughts is also the aggregate of consciousness, and know that all illusory aggregates and sense bases are what is called the aggregate of consciousness.

Original text: For example, the consciousness of an illusory, transformed person is not inside, not outside, and not in the middle. The nature of consciousness is also like this—like an illusion, unreal, dependently originated, arising from recollection, conceptualization, and discrimination. It has no substantial reality. Like the consciousness of a puppet, consciousness is also like this—arising from inversion, existing due to the coming together of unreal causes and conditions. When contemplating thus, one knows that all consciousness is impermanent, suffering, impure, and devoid of self. One knows the characteristics of consciousness are like an illusion; one contemplates the nature of consciousness as like an illusion.

Explanation: For example, the consciousness of an illusory, unreal person is not inside, not outside, and not in the middle between inside and outside. The nature of the conscious mind is also like this—it is illusory, born from unreal conditional dharmas, arising from recollection, conceptualization, and discrimination. It has no real discriminating nature. Like a puppet controlled by mechanisms, the aggregate of consciousness is also like this—it arises from inverted mental activities; the function of the aggregate of consciousness exists only due to the coming together of unreal causes and conditions. When correctly contemplating the aggregate of consciousness like this, one will know that the aggregate of consciousness is entirely impermanent, suffering, impure, and devoid of self. One knows the characteristics of the aggregate of consciousness are illusory, and contemplating the nature of the aggregate of consciousness reveals it is also unreal and insubstantial.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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How to Correctly Understand the Aggregate of Consciousness (Part 2)

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