Instruments of Knowledge and Post-Human Destinies by Debashish
Editor’s Note: The two postings on Techno-Capitalism and Post-Human Destinies (I and II) generated a thread on the relationship between physical instruments of observation and knowledge in the scientific sense (microscopes, telescopes, nuclear accelerators), human organs of observation and knowledge (mind, intelligence, sense organs) in the cognitive/ psychological sense and possible mutations of human consciousness in the ontological/ phenomenological/ epistemological sense (change of being, change of consciousness, change of modalities of knowledge).
The last (possibilities of a change of modalities of knowledge) opened up a consideration of Sri Aurobindo’s phenomenology of supramental knowledge and its subsidiary action in human forms and instruments of knowledge – specifically sense-knowledge through the sense organs with the “sixth-sense” of the “sense mind,” manas in the Indian Sankhya formulation behind them at/as their origin and the supramental Samjnana further behind/beyond but with a concealed and subsidiary operation in/through manas.
By Vladimir on Sun 10 Dec 2006 07:03 AM PST Profile Permanent Link
These studies of consciousness belong to the adhyatmic education of the future. If we systematize these four (samjnana, prajnana, vijnana, ajnana) we can clearly see that there are two apprehensive and two comprehensive operations of power (self) and knowledge (consciousness); projecting the very nature of the supreme consciousness-power, cit-tapas. The first two are apprehensive operations (of separative knowledge): samjnana and prajnana, the possession of an image of things in substance as feeling, and the possession of it in its energy as knowing. The next two are comprehensive operations (of knowledge by identity): vijnana and ajnana, holding an image of things in its essence, totality and properties as knowing, and holding an image of things as governing and possessing it in power...
These studies of consciousness belong to the adhyatmic education of the future. If we systematize these four (samjnana, prajnana, vijnana, ajnana) we can clearly see that there are two apprehensive and two comprehensive operations of power (self) and knowledge (consciousness); projecting the very nature of the supreme consciousness-power, cit-tapas. The first two are apprehensive operations (of separative knowledge): samjnana and prajnana, the possession of an image of things in substance as feeling, and the possession of it in its energy as knowing. The next two are comprehensive operations (of knowledge by identity): vijnana and ajnana, holding an image of things in its essence, totality and properties as knowing, and holding an image of things as governing and possessing it in power...
Thanks, Debashish, for introducing this theme for an independent discussion. There are plenty of things that need be said, can be said, and understood, and made real here. I shall start with a passage from Savitri. For that let us attend the recital The Anthem of a Pilgrim Sea being conducted in the theatre The World-Soul: (Savitri, pp. 289-91) That which is hearing of our hearing and mind of our mind has to accompany us for the programme...
A formless spirit became the soul of form. What is behind our hearing has become the instrument of hearing, and so on. Just count the number of sounds and the sound-related words in the description! If only we become a part of the long caravan crossing the deserts of our life! If only we can transcribe and trans-create a part of that composition! Will the Composer behind the composer arrive? Our compositions must attempt something of the kind. RYD
by Rich on Sun 10 Dec 2006 07:31 PM PST Profile Permanent Link
Vladimir Do you know how prajnana and vijnana evolve the following meanings in Buddhism? I've noticed also major deviations in the meaning of Chitta and Manas from Sri Aurobindo to the rDzogs=chen school as well rc
Before we engage in an attempted dialogue between Hegel and Dogen we must make some preliminary observations that will facilitate, indeed allow the dialogue to occur...
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