The Concept of the Skandhas / 199
THE CONSCIOUSNESS GROUP ENQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF THE CONCEPT OF MENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS Consciousness of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, body sensations, mental consciousness. Wolinsky: How does concept called “my” consciousness, which believes in the concept of I am, define mental consciousness? Student:
Being conscious of mental functioning.
Wolinsky: What assumptions has concept called “my” consciousness, which believes in the concept of I am, made about the concept of mental consciousness? Student:
That there is a YOU that is CONSCIOUS of mental functioning.
Wolinsky: And what have been the consequences of that for the concept called “my” consciousness, which believes in the concept of I am, by believing in the concept of mental consciousness? Student:
There is a constant attempt to reinforce this YOU, which is consciousness of mental functioning.
Wolinsky: If these were just concepts of the concept called “my” consciousness, which believes in the concept of I am and were made of the SAME underlying SUBSTANCE including the “awarer,” which is aware of it and it has nothing to do with anything, then . . . ? Student:
_______(Long silence).