Dear Yong Peng,
Op 28-feb-2009, om 11:38 heeft Ong Yong Peng het volgende geschreven:

> has anyone researched into the Buddhist concept of the mind in
> relation to IQ (Intelligent Quotient), EQ (Emotional Quotient) and SQ
> (Spiritual Quotient)?

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N: I prefer to follow the Abhidhamma in referring to the mind. Mind
is used as a translation of mano, or manas, but I like to quote from
my 'Meanings of Dhamma': < The words citta, mano and vi~n~naa.na are
the same in meaning, they are the paramattha dhamma that is citta,
consciousness. We read in the �Kindred Sayings� (II, Nidaana-
sa.myutta, Ch VII, 61:<Ya.m ca kho eta.m bhikkhave vuccati citta.m
iti pi mano iti pi vi~n~na.m iti pi...
Yet this, monks, what we call indeed thought (citta), mind,
consciousness (by this the untaught manyfolk are not able to feel
repelled)...>
However, in different contexts there is a differentiation of terms.
The aggregate of consciousness is called vi~n~naa.nakkhandha, and it
includes all cittas. For seeing-consciousness, the word
cakkhuvi~n~naa.na is used.>
---------
Citta knows an object, seeing is a citta that knows colour, hearing
is a citta that knows sound. Citta arises in a process and after
seeing or hearing there are cittas that react to the object in a
wholesome way or an unwholesome way, kusala cittas or akusala cittas.
If we use the notions above like emotional, it may be confusing,
since different people have different ideas about them. Same for
intelligent, spiritual. The interpretation may be rather subjective.
Someone may be intelligent with regard to worldly matters, but he may
not have any understanding of the cultivation of wholesomeness and
pa~n~naa which understands the truth of the Dhamma.
---------

>
> Y.P.: What about in relation to wholesome qualities such as wisdom,
> compassion, loving-kindness, etc.?

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There is only one citta at a time but each citta is accompanied by
several mental factors, cetasikas. These may be akusala, kusala or
neither. When citta is accompanied by compassion it is kusala citta.
This citta arises because of conditions. If there was compassion in
the past it can arise again.
Kusala citta may be accompanied by wisdom or without it, and also
this is dependent on conditions. When wisdom, understanding, has been
developed in the past there are conditions for it to arise again and
in this way it can grow and develop.
------
Nina.



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