CONSCIOUSNESS

“‘Consciousness, consciousness’ is said, friend. With reference to what is ‘consciousness’ said?” “‘It cognizes, it cognizes,’ friend; that is why ‘consciousness’ is said. What does it cognize? It cognizes: ‘[This is] pleasant’; it cognizes: ‘[This is] painful’; it cognizes: ‘[This is] neither-painful-nor-pleasant.’ ‘It cognizes, it cognizes,’ friend; that is why ‘consciousness’ is said.”

“Wisdom and consciousness, friend — are these states conjoined or disjoined? And is it possible to separate each of these states from the other in order to describe the difference between them?” “Wisdom and consciousness, friend — these states are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is impossible to separate each of these states from the other in order to describe the difference between them. For what one wisely understands, that one cognizes, and what one cognizes, that one wisely understands. That is why these states are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is impossible to separate each of these states from the other in order to describe the difference between them.”

“What is the difference, friend, between wisdom and consciousness, these states that are conjoined, not disjoined?” “The difference, friend, between wisdom and consciousness, these states that are conjoined, not disjoined, is this: wisdom is to be developed, consciousness is to be fully understood.”

(FEELING)

“‘Feeling, feeling’ is said, friend. With reference to what is ‘feeling’ said?” “‘It feels, it feels,’ friend; that is why ‘feeling’ is said. What does it feel? It feels pleasure, it feels pain, it feels neither-pain-nor-pleasure. ‘It feels, it feels,’ friend, that is why ‘feeling’ is said.”

(PERCEPTION)

“‘Perception, perception,’ is said, friend. With reference to what is ‘perception’ said?” “‘It perceives, it perceives,’ friend; that is why ‘perception’ is said. What does it perceive? It perceives blue, it perceives yellow, it perceives red, and it perceives white. ‘It perceives, it perceives,’ friend; that is why ‘perception’ is said.”

“Feeling, perception, and consciousness, friend — are these states conjoined or disjoined? And is it possible to separate each of these states from the others in order to describe the difference between them?” “Feeling, perception, and consciousness, friend — these states are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is impossible to separate each of these states from the others in order to describe the difference between them. For what one feels, that one perceives; and what one perceives, that one cognizes. That is why these states are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is impossible to separate each of these states from the others in order to describe the difference between them.”

(KNOWABLE BY MIND ALONE)

“Friend, what can be known by purified mind-consciousness released from the five faculties?” “Friend, by purified mind-consciousness released from the five faculties the base of infinite space can be known thus: ‘Space is infinite’; the base of infinite consciousness can be known thus: ‘Consciousness is infinite’; and the base of nothingness can be known thus: ‘There is nothing.’”

“Friend, with what does one understand a state that can be known?” “Friend, one understands a state that can be known with the eye of wisdom.”

“Friend, what is the purpose of wisdom?” “The purpose of wisdom, friend, is direct knowledge, its purpose is full understanding, its purpose is abandoning.”

MN 43