Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

CONSCIOUSNESS, VINNĀNA 

A symbol of the individuality, or of the causal-body, the seat of the individuality.

"If consciouness, Ananda, did not enter into the womb, would name and corporeal form arise in the womb ? - No, sire.'

If individuality did not manifest on the lower planes, would personality and its constructed higher (causal) body be produced and developed ? - No.

"And if consciousness, Ananda, after it has entered into the womb, were again to leave its place, would name and corporeal form be born into this life ? - No, sire."

And if individuality manifested only on its own plane, and withdrew, would personality and its higher body be produced in the cycle of the lower life? - No.

"And if consciousness, Ananda, were again lost to the boy or to the girl, while they were yet small, would name and corporeal form attain growth, increase, progress? - No, sire (Mahânidâna sutta). - H. OLDENBERG, Buddha, p. 228.

And if individuality withdrew while the mind (boy) and the emotions (girl) were yet immature, would personality and its higher body develop and attain perfection? - No.

“Consciousness must be in order that there may be name and material form; from consciousness come name and material form. Whence comes consciousness ?-Name and material form must be, in order that there may be consciousness; from name and material form comes consciousness. . . . consciousness conversely depends on name and material form the chain goes no farther." - Ibid., p. 230.

This statement is to bring out the fact that the potential archetypal individuality emanates the personality which in its turn builds up the actual individuality which succeeds it, and unites with it. There must be individuality in order that personality and its higher form should exist: and there also must be personality in order that its higher form should be developed into the individuality.

"As two bundles of sticks leaning against each other stand, so also consciousness grows out of name and material form, and name and material form out of consciousness." - Ibid.  

See Also

FORM AND NAME
IGNORANCE
NAME
NIRVANA
SAMSKARA
SKANDHAS