Best Of
Re: Buddha and the unconscious
I did a search for Buddhism and the unconscious and plenty of stuff came up, I didn't look deeply, but one summary of the page did mention the alaya like @Jeffrey pointed out.
person
Re: Buddha and the unconscious
Did the Buddha, in his own terms, ever talk about the unconscious ?
Bearing in mind (pun intended) that the term “unconscious” is a modern psychological idea, one could say yes, the Buddha did speak about what we would now call the unconscious, because his understanding of the mind included every layer of mental activity, from what we’re clearly aware of to what lies deeply conditioned and unseen.
He may not have used the word “unconscious,” but he spoke of latent tendencies (anusaya) that stay hidden until they are stirred, mental formations (saṅkhāra) that shape how we think and act without our awareness, and ignorance (avijjā) as the root that keeps these patterns alive. In this way, the Buddha recognised both the seen and unseen workings of the mind, showing that liberation comes through understanding the whole of it, not just the surface.
Shoshin1
Re: Buddha and the unconscious
Did the Buddha? I don't know, but (some of his) descendants put together a theory of 8 consciousness and I would think the 8th, Alaya, sounds like subconscious but maybe not the same as modern psychologists conceive of it. I haven't looked into how these teachings started or if you could say that they came from or of "the Buddha".
Jeffrey
Re: Buddha and the unconscious
This is a good question. My own knowledge is lacking, I don't remember ever having learned about Buddhist ideas of consciousness in the modern context of the unconscious. I'd put the odds on yes, but can't give you anything.
My guess is @Jason would be able to up a sutta or two if he checks in sometime.
person
Re: Nature and spirituality
Yes if you spend a lot of time around nature you will inevitably see death, whether that be a dead animal or a dead tree. So isn't it strange that nearly every time you hear someone talk about 'nature spirituality' it's all about birth and life?
Tavs
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Thanks for the tip @Jeroen
In USA, you just need to dress as a frog, be brown or in a poncho and all mayhem ensues...
Sadly they do not have kindly policing at the mo.
lobster
Why does Buddhism waste so much time on esoteric philosophical speculation?
Here is a question the Buddha was once asked: "Are the images or replicas (pratibimba) which are the object (gocara) of meditative concentration (samadhi) different/separate (bhinna) from the contemplating mind (*citta) or not." I mean, who gives a rat's ass? If you see a homeless person, are you going to lecture him on the merits of duality v. non-duality? Most people don't even know what terms like these mean. It's stuff like this that makes Buddhist sutras unreadable, unlike the Bible or Koran, which are just straight-up stories that anyone can follow. Why can't Buddhists just say "The Buddha loves everyone and wants all people to love and help each other?" Is that so hard?
Re: What happens to the world when everybody attains Buddhahood?
Good question. Thay often said the next Buddha could be a community. In my limited ideal, the real work/fun would begin. Like the Zen parables of rivers and mountains and before and after enlightenment, there would be much water to carry, so to speak. We would all realise our true nature of cooperation and work together.
