Is the term " mind " another way of describing awareness?

Upvote:2

If you take Namarupa according to the Skandha classification the following falls under Nama (mind)

  • feelings
  • perceptions
  • mental formations
  • consciousness.

You know or are aware due to consciousness but there other 3 items which form the mind. Also awareness is the function of consciousness and not consciousness itself. So awareness in itself is not mind. You are aware since partly due to conciousness, as you have to have an external stimuli, organ, and attention, Cha Chakka Sutta may help shed some light.

Upvote:2

from what I know, you are absolutely correct. Awareness is an entity you can not isolate it by itself. It has to aware of something to be there. In other word, there cant be know without the known.

Buddha said, vinnana ends when name-form ends, and name-form ends when vinnana ends/

so I agree with you when you said

if there was no awareness non of the above is possible

Upvote:3

"Awareness" is a very poor or inaccurate word to use in relation to Buddhism, despite the fact that so many Buddhists use it. This is because, in English, "awareness" has many meanings, such as:

(i) mere sense awareness; e.g. He was aware of the sight of the plane in the sky

(ii) knowledge; e.g. He is aware that drugs are dangerous.

1. Having knowledge or discernment of something: was aware of the difference between the two versions; became aware that the music had stopped.

2. Attentive and well informed: "Most scientists are thoughtful, liberal-minded and socially aware people" (Armand Marie Leroi).

3. Archaic Vigilant; watchful.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/awareness

In Buddhism, there are different words for the different types of mentality (nama), such as:

  1. consciousness ('vinnana'); that which 'experiences' sense objects via the sense organs

  2. 'citta' ('mind-heart'); that which generates emotions (greed, anger, love, etc) & thoughts

  3. 'mano' ('intellect'); that which makes decisions, generates intentions, develops wisdom

Therefore, to answer the original question, feeling, thinking, studying, etc, have consciousness ('vinnana') as the common factor.

Buddhism defines the composition of a human life into five aggregates, namely:

(i) body;

(ii) feelings (pleasant & unpleasant sensations);

(iii) perceptions (labels);

(iv) mental forming (emotions, thoughts, images, etc) &

(v) consciousness.

It is consciousness that allows each aggregate, including consciousness itself, to be experienced or known. Thus the common factor, in terms of 'experience', is consciousness.

However, if we take a scientific approach, in terms of how these different mental functions exist, we would say the common factor is the brain or neurology.

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