The Suffering of All Vijñānas

Question: When the body of an animal is dismembered and still twitches, does the mental faculty experience particularly severe suffering? Does the dismembered body still feel intense pain?

Answer: The mental faculty does not experience physical suffering or pleasure arising from tactile objects; this is the physiological suffering perceived by the body consciousness. The suffering of the mental consciousness is mental in nature. When circumstances oppose its will or fail to align with its desires, the mental faculty becomes dissatisfied, which constitutes suffering. The mental faculty is extremely prone to greed and hatred. Due to its attachments, the more it clings, the more greed and unwillingness to let go it develops, and likewise, the more hatred it generates. The mental faculty does not wish to die; it does not wish to be killed or eaten. Therefore, it harbors resentment and experiences suffering. If rescued, it may also feel gratitude. Thus, the mental faculty can repay kindness, bear grudges, and seek revenge. The resentment within the mental faculty is sufficient to cause discomfort, and its vengeful wishes are sufficient to bring about negative karmic retribution and suffering.