Consciousness and Death

betaboy

If, as the nondualists claim, consciousness in its original form is unconditioned, and, if it is presently conditioned by the body, then wouldn't death (of the body) alone restore consciousness to its original state, the undifferentiated state? Wouldn't that be a suicidal/pessimistic idea?

How do nondualists explain this - Buddhists also, since some Buddhists do believe in nondualism?

federica

Who cares?

How exactly does such cogitation actually help to enhance your personal practice....?

Popcorn, anyone?

Jeffrey

Non-dual consciousness is not a skhanda including the physical form skhanda.

BhikkhuJayasara

From the theravada perspective if i understand this right, consciousness exists only with the existance of a body with it's 6 senses.

Ie there is no one consciousness, there is eye consciousness, ear consciousness, nose consciousness etc.

Zero

betaboy said:

If, as the nondualists claim, consciousness in its original form is unconditioned, and, if it is presently conditioned by the body, then wouldn't death (of the body) alone restore consciousness to its original state, the undifferentiated state?
Wouldn't that be a suicidal/pessimistic idea?

Nothing need be 'restored' as nondualist consciousness is all inclusive.
It is a dualist consciousness that makes the distinction.
I suppose nondual consciousness perhaps denotes a condition where 'consciousness' is awake to its universal / all encompassing nature and therefore by definition no longer falls into identification with dualistic perception or forms of dualistic thought / comparison and / or perhaps further that it develops a facet of say something like 'wisdom' that can within itself resolve and / or dispel any confusion or inconsistency.
This seems therefore inconsistent with pessimism.

person

The Tibetan Book of Dying talks about how during the dying process that the original, undifferentiated consciousness, they call it the clear light consciousness, does appear. The problem is unless we have familiarized ourselves with it during our lives then we don't recognized it and it passes quickly. I believe they say that we then pass onto the intermediate state between lives where a bardo body arises that we abide in until we move on to the next birth.

If you want any further explanation you'll have to google Tibetan process of dying or some such thing.

Dakini

betaboy said:

If, as the nondualists claim, consciousness in its original form is unconditioned, and, if it is presently conditioned by the body, then wouldn't death (of the body) alone restore consciousness to its original state, the undifferentiated state? Wouldn't that be a suicidal/pessimistic idea?

How do nondualists explain this - Buddhists also, since some Buddhists do believe in nondualism?

You don't have to kill yourself for your consciousness to return to that state. You can achieve that with a dedicated meditation practice, and patience.

Nek777

Another reason suicide doesn't work is karma. If you leave life before this life's karma is complete, you will just deal with it again...

Steve_B

Soon enough, we all return to the original -- and perpetual -- state. The current consciousness is but a glimmer. Enjoy it!

footiam

betaboy said:

If, as the nondualists claim, consciousness in its original form is unconditioned, and, if it is presently conditioned by the body, then wouldn't death (of the body) alone restore consciousness to its original state, the undifferentiated state? Wouldn't that be a suicidal/pessimistic idea?

How do nondualists explain this - Buddhists also, since some Buddhists do believe in nondualism?

Death probably would not restore consciousness to its orignal state. It just wipe it all out!