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"Heightened mind/consciousness" in the sutras..

ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
What's being referred to? Is heightened mind/consciousness another term for meditation? Or is it enlightenment?

Comments

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited October 2010
    OP: I think you may have to provide info about which sutra and the exact wording for anyone to answer "for sure", but my answer would be that it indicates the heightened consciousness that arises when properly meditating, anything from access concentration up through the jhanas (absorptions). It may mean otherwise if the sutra is specifically speaking about the non-meditative consciousness of an enlightened mind; again, you'd have to provide more information.
  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Thanks for the reply.
    MN 20 was the specific one that made me wonder.
  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Hmm, I've found that this translation is much clearer and less ambiguous.

    I am still confused though. When meditating, we're normally taught the third method (not attending to unskilful thoughts), the other methods seem to imply judgment... the thoughts are likened to a dead carcass around the neck... surely that can't be helpful when meditating.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited October 2010
    If i'm understanding what your asking, in relation to the passage you linked to, I don't think he's referring to what to do while meditating and these thoughts arise. In general, if bad thoughts arise one of the ways to react is to think about the negativity of those thoughts.
  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Soma Thera's translation:
    By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (his subject of meditation)

    That's the bit that made me think it's talking about meditation.

    From Thanissaro's translation:
    he steadies his mind right within, settles it, unifies it, and concentrates it.

    and the last translation...
    With their fading the mind settles and comes to one point

    Those lines are repeated a couple of times per paragraph in that sutra. It seems like the point is to concentrate, steady the mind, and bring it to one point... which sounds very much like meditation.

    'course it makes much more sense if this isn't about meditation. The last translation just says 'training the mind' rather than 'heightened consciousness' which makes much more sense.
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