--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Dipankar Chakma <dipankaro@...> wrote:

>
> According to the Abhidhamma system of course, the mind has serious

of thoughts (naming it 'the thought process - citta-viithi') and each
of this citta is in the state of arising, existing an dissolving.
Just like a stream of the river goes on flowing so the citta also
flows on in one's own life which is said the stream of consciousness
(vi~n~naa.na-sota). This can be said as the nature of citta (citta-
niyama). However, in this natural process there is nothing that
observes or watches the mind. In another way, if anyon is being in
the state of mindfulness where every action is cloesely paid
attention, in that case, he/she obeserves his/her own mind. Beside
this, there is nothing.............that observes the mind to itself.

> with metta,
> dipankaro
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: ruwanr2003 <ruwanr2003@...>
> To: Pali@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 7:33:25
> Subject: [Pali] Observer and stream of thought
>
> I was listening to one Buddhist preacher said the following. Not

sure

> it is Theravada or Mahayana. He said the mind is nothing but a

train

> of thought. Thoughts appear and disappear all the time. Then there

is

> an observer watching. That observer and the thoughts are maya or

does

> not exist. Did Buddha say anything about the observer watching the
> train of thought?
>
> any ideas appreciated.
>
> Mettha
>
> Ruwan
>
>
>
>
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>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Dear Nina and Dipankar

But when someone is meditating it seems like there is an observer and
thoughts appear and disappear. I understand Theravada tradition
believe that obsever is nothing but an illusion. Do we have any
suttas on this issue? It seems that even among practitioners there
are many variations.

With metta

Ruwan