Expression of Cognition: The ability to accurately express our understanding and comprehend others' expressions is crucial in human life.
We often encounter situations where others misunderstand us or fail to grasp our meaning. This points to issues either in expression or in cognition. Correct expression with flawed cognition leads to misunderstanding, as does correct cognition with flawed expression. Thus, both accurate cognition and clear expression are vital.
In Buddhism, both expressing and understanding expressions are paramount. These form the foundation of our practice of learning, contemplation, and meditation. Often, we struggle to apply what we've read or misinterpret teachings due to cognitive or expressive shortcomings. To address this, we need to develop a clear framework for expressing and understanding the various cognitive states encountered in our spiritual journey, requiring careful classification and analysis.
Drawing from Buddhist perspectives, particularly focusing on the practices of learning, contemplation, and meditation, let's explore various aspects of cognition and expression.
Given the vast range of expressive elements in Buddhism, we can categorize them into seven key types:1. Direct Perception 2. Views 3. Experiences 4. Practice 5. Insights 6. Enlightenment 7. States of Realization
Let's break these down:
Direct Perception encompasses immediate sensory experiences and realizations from practice.
Views refer to conceptual understandings, particularly from Madhyamaka and Yogacara philosophies.
Experiences are the felt experiences during practice. For instance, " During meditation, my body feels empty, my surroundings fade, and my vision blurs."
Practice involves describing current spiritual methods, such as visualizations of Vajrasattva, Yamantaka, or techniques like Mahamudra and Dzogchen.
Insights represent the fusion of theoretical understanding and practical experience. An example in Dzogchen might be the realization that there's "nothing to practice" - this is expressing insight. Chan's witty exchanges often fall into this category. Insights blend theory and practice but haven't reached the deepest levels.
Enlightenment expressions describe the moment of awakening, often using vivid imagery like "the earth sank" or "space shattered."
States of Realization refer to the condition of being enlightened or possessing extraordinary abilities.
We can further distill these seven categories into three main types: 1. Expressions of View 2. Expressions of Practice 3. Expressions of Realization
These three encompass theoretical understanding, practical application, and experiential attainment, respectively. Here, "realization" includes both insights and enlightenment.
Excerpted from: Cognition and Expression Part Three
