What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Discussion of Abhidhamma and related Commentaries
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Can someone explain the meaning of the following:

“Radiant is this consciousness,” (pabhassaram idam cittam) says the Buddha in
the Anguttara Nikāya vol. 1, p. 10. According to the commentator the Buddha
was thus referring to the rebirth-consciousness

--------------------
I found further information please refer to page 329 of the link below. It does not make any sense to me:

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/buddh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... gsurw6.pdf


This rebirth-consciousness is regarded as pure as it is either devoid of immoral roots of lust, hatred, and delusion accompanied by moral roots.


--------------------------
Further information :
consciousness is regarded as “radiant”
(pabhassara) as it is either devoid of immoral
roots of lust, hatred and delusion (as in the case of
‘rootless resultants—ahetukavipàka), or accompanied
by moral roots (as in the case of ‘resultants with roots’).

-------

Please also see page 315 and 316 for death and rebirth thought moments.

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/abhidhamma.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19932
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by mikenz66 »

Here are some previous discussions:

http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7878" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=12817" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=7584" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:anjali:
Mike
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Hi Mike
Thanks. The links were very helpful.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Interesting article re this subject:



We may now consider another situation. When a child is born, s/he has no ‘world’, but for the parents, there is an arrival of a newborn baby to their world. Up to about three months, the infant may not be able to identify an object with the use of five sense organs and the mind. Although the infant possesses the five very important abilities (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling born of body contact), the infant lacks the skill or the knowledge for classification or identification of individual objects or beings with the use of those abilities. The infant’s mind was described by the Buddha as "Pabhassara midam Bhikkave Chittam, Agantukehi sankilitthena Sankilittham" - 'Pure indeed is the original mind. It is contaminated by the external contaminant'’. The external contaminants reach the mind through the senses. The processing and storing of information received through the contacts made by the senses with the external world lead to the contamination of the pure mind.




http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 25,0,0,1,0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Thanks to Bhikkhu Gavesako, I found some useful information in this subject in another link. Understanding this subject is a must for an statute meditater.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
:meditate:
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19932
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by mikenz66 »

Members, please note the special guidelines for the Abhidhamma Forum, and the Classical Forums in general:
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=374" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Posts not complying with these guidelines will be removed.

:anjali:
Mike
Gena1480
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:36 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by Gena1480 »

what is the purpose of your question?
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Hi Mike.
Sorry, I think my question is related to Abhidhamma.
:)
Hi Gena.
I was looking for an answer (further explanation) to this question for a long time. Now I found the answer so I thought I will share it with the forum members for their benefit. :)
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Gena1480
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:36 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by Gena1480 »

so what have you found?
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Samatha meditation or first stages of Vipassana meditation bring your mind to the radiant consciousness level (attachment and aversion is suppressed but ignorance not yet eradicated) from that you develop last stages ofVipassana meditation and realise Nirvana. :D
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19932
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by mikenz66 »

SarathW wrote:Hi Mike.
Sorry, I think my question is related to Abhidhamma.
Yes, but I removed some answers that were not.

:anjali:
Mike
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Another great article re. this subject by Ven. Thanissaro:
:)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ature.html
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Ven. Thanissaro says:

"For a person practicing form jhāna in either sense of the term, the equanimity experienced with the sense of beautiful radiance can then act as the basis for the formless levels of jhāna, which the Canon terms the four "formlessnesses beyond form." These are invariably defined as progressive absorption in the perceptions of "infinite space," "infinite consciousness," and "there is nothing," leading to a fourth state of neither perception nor non-perception."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... part3.html
=================
Is he talking about Radiant Consciousness?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
nyanasuci
Posts: 126
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by nyanasuci »

SarathW wrote:Can someone explain the meaning of the following:

“Radiant is this consciousness,” (pabhassaram idam cittam) says the Buddha in
the Anguttara Nikāya vol. 1, p. 10.
I suggest you also look into Ven. Nanamoli's article 'The Infinity of The Mind':
http://pathpress.wordpress.com/2013/03/ ... n-an-1-51/
Bhikkhu Hiriko - Ñāṇasuci

The experts do not say that one is a sage in this world because of view, or learning, or knowledge, Nanda.
I call them sages who wander without association, without affliction, without desire.

The Buddha, Sn.V.8.2 (1078)


http://pathpress.org | http://nanavira.org | http://ajahnchah.org
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: What does it mean by radiant consciousness?

Post by SarathW »

Thanks for the link.
Infinitude space etc are fabricated. I am not sure whether they can be regarded as radiant consciousness. This matter is well explained by Ven. Thanissaro.
==================
§ 182. [On attaining the fourth level of jhāna] there remains only equanimity: pure & bright, pliant, malleable & luminous. Just as if a skilled goldsmith or goldsmith's apprentice were to prepare a furnace, heat up a crucible, and, taking gold with a pair of tongs, place it in the crucible. He would blow on it periodically, sprinkle water on it periodically, examine it periodically, so that the gold would become refined, well-refined, thoroughly refined, flawless, free from dross, pliant, malleable & luminous. Then whatever sort of ornament he had in mind — whether a belt, an earring, a necklace, or a gold chain — it would serve his purpose. In the same way, there remains only equanimity: pure & bright, pliant, malleable, & luminous. He (the meditator) discerns that 'If I were to direct equanimity as pure & bright as this toward the dimension of the infinitude of space, I would develop the mind along those lines, and thus this equanimity of mine — thus supported, thus sustained — would last for a long time. [Similarly with the dimensions of the infinitude of consciousness, nothingness, & neither perception nor non-perception.]'

He discerns that 'If I were to direct equanimity as pure & bright as this toward the dimension of the infinitude of space and to develop the mind along those lines, that would be fabricated. [Similarly with the dimensions of the infinitude of consciousness, nothingness, & neither perception nor non-perception.]' He neither fabricates nor wills for the sake of becoming or un-becoming. This being the case, he is not sustained by anything in the world (does not cling to anything in the world). Unsustained, he is not agitated. Unagitated, he is totally unbound right within. He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.'
— MN 140
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... part3.html
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Post Reply