Consciousness is primary and foundational. It was the view in all Indian religious traditions and philosophy, except the materialists, Charvakas. Consciousness itself is subjective, formless and non-physical.
Charvaka, or Lokayata, was an ancient Indian materialist and atheistic school of thought (c. 700 BC – 12th Century AD) that championed empiricism, rejecting supernaturalism, the soul, and karma. Proponents held that direct perception is the only source of knowledge, advocating that life’s goal is to maximize pleasure and avoid pain.
Materialism in Western philosophy is the metaphysical view that all reality is composed of physical matter and its interactions, reducing mental and spiritual phenomena to physical processes. Originating with Greek atomists like Democritus and Leucippus (5th century BCE), it proposes that everything—including consciousness—results from material causes.
Mainstream Neuroscience views consciousness as a physical, emergent property of complex brain activity, arising from the interaction of widespread neural networks rather than a single location.
I’d offer that this view is not compatible with the Buddha’s teachings. For example, rebirth is rendered moot in such a wrong view, according to the Buddha, as in DN1 and MN60.
Not if by this is meant something unchanging and everlasting. In the Teachings it is always conditional, as in SN56.11, MN38, and many other suttas.
MN38:
Buddha - "Haven’t I said in many ways that consciousness is dependently originated, since consciousness does not arise without a cause? Nanu mayā, moghapurisa, anekapariyāyena paṭiccasamuppannaṁ viññāṇaṁ vuttaṁ, aññatra paccayā natthi viññāṇassa sambhavoti?
Not in this sutta, nor in any others which directly teach about the conditionality of consciousness, does the Buddha add an additional statement about any stable, unconditional, unchanging consciousness.
In terms of “where do we come from”, wondering “What was I in the past?”, “What will I be in the future?” was described as not fruitful, according to the Buddha, MN2.
As far as Suttas go we should talk about devolution since a new circle starts from the highest gods and then beings slowly degradate themselves.
Also if we decide to emphasize consciousness as fundamental aspect- no consciousness no experience- then we should be carful to describe “ourselves “ as humans, after all human body is just one of many objects in the field of consciousness and there is absolutely no need to see it as “mine” or “what I am”.
I didn’t watch the whole video, I thought the bits that were mentioned from the Aggannasutta DN27 seemed accurate from what I remember. although there were definitely some furphies, it mentioned “the Buddha’s insight on collective karma”, it’s just karma, minus the ‘collective’. It also mentions ‘free-will’ which is concept from Christianity. There’s definitely snippets of truth in it, but not entirely accurate as noted by Jasudho.
This might sound like a silly question but, do you think this content is human-generated? It seems so polished and perfect, maybe too perfect? It effortlessly blends ‘ancient’ wisdom with ‘modern’ and it definitely sounds appealing for sure.
I’m a little sceptical myself, I’m sure there are folks here who are more expert in telling whether a piece of content is AI or not, but there seems to be a lot of ‘these’ types of ‘documentaries?’ on youtube. My dear old dad has a knack for watching similar sort of content (not on Buddhism or spirituality ) but it’s kind of similar, where the narrator’s voice seems perfect, the images are perfect…
I think we need to view these with a healthy dose of scepticism.
The video strongly appears to be AI generated. It’s scraped all kinds of misconceptions and erroneous ideas attributed to the Buddha. The video begins with a lot of statements that aren’t ideas from the discourses of the Buddha and tries to pin those ideas on the Buddha with an obvious fake Buddha quote "All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.”
Basically, I think the premise of the video is a wrong view of the Buddhist concept of consciousness and doesn’t take into account the uselessness of trying to find a beginning as in SN15.1.
…"This transmigration has no known beginning. No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving. For such a long time you have undergone suffering, agony, and disaster, swelling the cemeteries. This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.”
Bhante Sujato’s post here is perfect for this discussion:
Yes I agree. When I am saying consciousness is primary, I am meaning it is higher dimensional above from or 3D physical reality. It is foundational as energy is foundational to matter. Matter is condensed energy. Imho, Consciousness is higher dimensional light beyond 3D perception and it creates planes of reality along with energy. Brain is a receiver and transmitter of consciousness. Experienced meditators often display higher levels of highest frequency gamma wave (30-80 hz) activity in brain, reflecting enhanced neural synchronicity.
I see the foundational boundless heart-mind or ‘Citta’ in Buddhism as a field (khetra, ayatana, avacara, loka, chakkabala) that is originally bright and luminous and connected to the Void or source. Mano, manas and vijnana (I, me, mine centered cognitive, rational, intellectual mind and specialized six senses are further downstream and clouded by attachments to form, feeling, perception, mental fabrication and consciousness (conditioned and dependently originated).
However, Buddha also spoke about consciousness that does not land anywhere or attach to anything (Upaya Sutta SN 22.053). I will respond more later.
Yes it is AI generated, but it does give a coherent picture with one’s views and interpretation mixed in. I feel it is very important to make the ancient view or right view of things as they are compatible with contemporary perspective, knowledge and understanding for awakening and enlightenment to remain alive, relevant, here and now as it is unfolding in our mind consciousness and direct experience.
) but it’s kind of similar, where the narrator’s voice seems perfect, the images are perfect…