Volition

Talisman

What are some of the ways that the Buddha defines "Volitional Impulses/Formations" as in the 2nd chain of dependent origination and as 1 of the 5 clinging aggregates?

santhisouk

Basically not to think about it nor to will and plan it. Don't fertilize the seed of consciousness to grow.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.038.wlsh.html

Vincenzi

"Don't fertilize the seed of consciousness to grow."

I'm not so sure about that; it is more about "consciousness without feature" (a sutric description of Nirvana).

Tikal2012

I think that "formations" in terms of DO refers to your bodily, verbal, and mental formations. Whereas volitional formations mean your concepts, views, and opinions that you cling to. I'm not 100% sure, but that's the best that I can give you. Hope it helps.

DhammaDhatu

the buddha did not use the term "Volitional Impulses/Formations" in the 2nd chain of dependent origination. if anything, what happens at the 2nd chain is "non-volitional". it is automatic or habituated rather than volitional

"sankhara" in terms of DO refers to bodily, verbal, and mind fabricators

the bodily fabricator is the breathing in & out; the verbal fabricator is initial & discursive thought; the mind fabricator is perception & feeling

Bhikkhu Thanissaro provides a very practical explanation here, pages 3 to 7:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/shapeofsuffering.pdf

Regards

note: our meditation objects are the "sankhara" of the 2nd link, being stirred up in our body (rupa) & mind (nama) by ignorance (avicca), known by our consciousness (vinanna)

Talisman

the buddha did not use the term "Volitional Impulses/Formations" in the 2nd chain of dependent origination. if anything, what happens at the 2nd chain is "non-volitional". it is automatic or habituated rather than volitional

"sankhara" in terms of DO refers to bodily, verbal, and mind fabricators

the bodily fabricator is the breathing in & out; the verbal fabricator is initial & discursive thought; the mind fabricator is perception & feeling

Bhikkhu Thanissaro provides a very practical explanation here, pages 3 to 7:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/shapeofsuffering.pdf

Regards

note: our meditation objects are the "sankhara" of the 2nd link, being stirred up in our body (rupa) & mind (nama) by ignorance (avicca), known by our consciousness (vinanna)

Fantastic explanation and essay. Thanks for the referral. Exactly the kind of detailed exposition I was looking for.

SherabDorje

"Don't fertilize the seed of consciousness to grow."

I'm not so sure about that; it is more about "consciousness without feature" (a sutric description of Nirvana).

Vincenzi- not challenging, just asking- which sutra?

Vincenzi

@SherabDorje

Kevatta Sutta

Where do water, earth, fire, & wind
have no footing?
Where are long & short,
coarse & fine,
fair & foul,
name & form
brought to an end?

"'And the answer to that is:

Consciousness without feature,[1]
without end,
luminous all around:
Here water, earth, fire, & wind
have no footing.
Here long & short
coarse & fine
fair & foul
name & form
are all brought to an end.
With the cessation of [the activity of] consciousness
each is here brought to an end.'"

SherabDorje

Thanks. That's really pleasant to read- I was going to say "sweet", but in the older sense of the word. It's sort of like what the Heart Sutra alludes to but doesn't say. Thanks.

upekka

"sankhara" in terms of DO refers to bodily, verbal, and mind fabricators

the bodily fabricator is the breathing in & out; the verbal fabricator is initial & discursive thought; the mind fabricator is perception & feeling

and the verbal fabricator is the base for thoughts (mano kamma), speech (vacci kamma) and deed (kaya kamma)

if one can be mindful at the 'feeling' and 'perception' there is no verbal fabricator
then there is no food for consciousness

however for 'us' there is another 'feeling' and 'perception' arise
unless we can not be mindful we create kamma for future kamma vipaka

so practise, practise, practise,
practise makes perfect