Comparative study of Vinnana in Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s and Phorn Rattanasuwan’s perspectives

Abstract

The thesis aimed to study the concept of vinnana in Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s and Phorn  Rattanasuwan’s Perspectives.

The result revealed that the word ‘soul’ or vinnana for Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s concept was referred to enlightenment, or thing that one should be known (Nibbana) or the thing that one should develop to the ultimate end or freedom that consisted of three characteristics viz. rising, remaining and decaying.

According to Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s concept of vinnana, there are three kinds of vinnana as: 1) Vinnana as the nature, 2) Vinnana as it was formed by the condittioned things or Sankhara and 3) Vinnana as named by Ayatana or sense – fields. Regarding to   Phorn Rattanasuwan’s perspectives, it is referred to the power of mentality or as the general power. Especially. it can be found in living beings viz. plants, animals and human. They are considered to be the things that vinnana is existed. 

When both concepts are compared, the result revealed that it has similarity and differences as: Vinnana for Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s concept referred to the consciousness of all faculties’ viz. eye, ears and so no and the explanation of the Dependent Origination in human language. Regarding to Phorn Rattanasuwan’s explanation of the Dependent Origination, he mentioned that it was the life process from birth to death.

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has explained the Dependent Origination as the emptiness of self. Thus the cause of suffering in ever step of Dependent Origination has the similarity as the ‘emptiness’ and it is being as the delusion of each until the Cessation of Suffering. There is nothing to be called as self beyond the function of Dependent Origination.