z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 04.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 263
WHAT IS NOT—DHAMMA
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It is true that consciousness arises with birth and dies with death. All the same, can it be said that consciousness is the result of the combination of the four elements ?
The Buddha’s answer was not that the coexistence or aggregation of the physical elements produces consciousness. What the Buddha said was that wherever there was rupa or kaya there was consciousness accompanying it.
To give an analogy from science, there is an electric field and wherever there is an electric field it is always accompanied by a magnetic field. No one knows how the magnetic field is created or how it arises. But it always exists along with the electric field.
Why should not the same relationship be said to exist between body and consciousness ?
The magnetic field in relation to the electric field is called an induced field. Why cannot consciousness be called an induced field in relation to Rupa-Kaya.
The Buddha’s argument against the soul is not yet complete. He had further to say something of importance.
Once consciousness arises man becomes a sentient being. Consciousness is, therefore, the chief thing in man’s life.
Consciousness is cognitive, emotional and volitional.
Consciousness is cognitive when it gives knowledge, information, as appreciating or apprehending, whether it be appreciation of internal facts or of external things and events.
Consciousness is emotional when it exists in certain subjective states, characterized by either pleasurable or painful tones, when emotional consciousness produces feeling.
Consciousness in its volitional stage makes a being exert himself for the attainment of some end. Volitional consciousness gives rise to what we call will or activity.
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