My post on "vi~n~naana.m andassana.m"

At E-Sangha...

Disclaimer: this is my understanding from practicing in the Thai forest tradition, but what I am writing below does not represent the teachings of the forest tradition, only my limited understanding of it.

Regarding "vi~n~naana.m andassana.m", it is unconditioned. Since it is unconditioned, it cannot interact with anything. It cannot influence samsara, nor can it be influenced by samsara. It is not a controller of anything as it does not have any ability to control, or be controlled.

Since it is "unborn" and "deathless", there is no concept of time. Time does not apply. Time only applies to things that are conditioned, like the five aggregates. For the unconditioned, time simply does not exist. No time.

We are so caught up with samsara way of thinking where time is an inescapable reality, and as we never have experienced anything that is “not bound by time”, we always think of this as having to be either nihilistic or eternalistic. But both terms do not apply.

The only reason that, in my understanding, " vi~n~naana.m andassana.m" is used is because of the quality of knowing. However, this quality is of “simply knowing” only, and not of thinking, not understanding, not comprehending, not storing any tiny bits of memory. Simply knows. Luminous because knowing is limitless, but there light/color/darkness do not apply.

When we use the word mind, we think of a thing. This is not a thing either, and cannot be found, and does not exist nor not exist. It is not the mind. Sometimes the word mind is used simply because for lack of better words.

Is it Self or True Self? Far from that as well. Self or whatever we call me or mine only belongs to samsara. “We” are the self, the illusion, the concept. The “one” that knows is also a concept. It's not also the new-age or ancient-age "one with all, and all with one". Or getting back into the Atman either, no mini Me finally rejoining the Big Me.

But this can be known, and the only way that it is known is directly from practice to see samsara as is. Simple. But that "direct knowledge" of is also in samsara. As this can be known, some Buddhist practitioners do not deny it. Some may not like to talk much about it as it is incomprehensible, and unexplainable, and only to be known by oneself. But since we have not yet experienced this , it does not mean that this is "false" or "wrong". [I know, some wouldn't want to anyway, or say it's a fake mind-made thing, whatever.]

For those who have direct knowledge of this "vi~n~naana.m andassana.m", which is also not any jhanic states either as it does not belong to any realms of existence nor does it have any kinds of existence (nor not exist), it is more true than anything in front of our eyes.

PS – I do not equate this to nibbana though.

Just my limited understanding from listening and learning from some meditation masters.