The Three Levels of Knowing in the Aggregate of Consciousness and the Mystery of the Saints’ Resonance

Have you ever met a stranger for the first time, and in a mere tenth of a second, sensed that something was wrong? Yet when you sat down to talk, their smile and words changed your perception. In the end, did you trust them or remain doubtful?

This is the knowing of the aggregate of consciousness – the knowing of the mind/heart. In the dharma talk titled "The Structure of the Five Aggregates – Beyond the Aggregate of Consciousness," Venerable Thich Chan Quang opened a profound perspective on the three levels of knowing we use daily, and a higher realm where enlightened beings no longer rely on the aggregate of consciousness.

The Three Knowings of the Aggregate of Consciousness: Concrete, Abstract, and Intuitive

According to the teacher, the aggregate of consciousness is the knowing of the mind/heart. "Wherever there is knowing, there is the aggregate of consciousness." This knowing has three levels.

Concrete knowing means recognizing exactly what is seen or heard. Seeing someone smiling, you know they are smiling. Feeling anger arise within yourself, you know you are angry.

Abstract knowing is the synthesis of many concrete knowings. For example, observing a family, you notice the couple speaking gently, the children being respectful, and affectionate gazes exchanged. From these details, you conclude: "This is a happy family."

Intuitive knowing is immediate recognition without logical deduction. Upon stepping into someone’s home, before seeing anyone, you instantly feel whether the atmosphere is warm and happy or cold and distant.

"Do you remember the three knowings of the aggregate of consciousness? And do we frequently use these three in our lives?"

The teacher shared that sensitive people often rely more on intuition. Initial intuition is usually accurate. When meeting someone, "in that first tenth of a second, intuition arises, and you recognize the person immediately. But as you interact longer, obscured by smiles and words, you begin to see differently and judge differently. That latter part is where error occurs."

Beyond the Aggregate of Consciousness: The Resonance of the Saints

However, there is another level, transcending all three forms of knowing. This is the knowing of saints who have realized non-self (anatta) – those who no longer possess an ego. Without an ego, they no longer utilize form, feeling, perception, mental formations, or consciousness. Their knowing is not the ordinary three types, but resonance.

"Resonance means that when a saint wishes to know something through this faculty, they direct their mind/heart toward it. They become that very thing."

For instance, if an Arhat wishes to know themselves, they resonate with themselves. They perceive every minute flaw in their own mind/heart, knowing more about themselves than they previously knew. They also clearly recall countless past lives: where they were born, who their parents were, what they did, thought, loved, or hated. All appears clearly, down to the smallest detail.

The difference between intuition and resonance is that intuition still involves a knower and a known object – two separate entities. Resonance, however, is when "the self and the object become one," allowing complete knowledge.

Attaining Meditation Versus Attaining Sainthood: Beware of Wrong Views

The teacher warned against a common wrong view: many mistakenly believe that attaining meditative concentration equates to attaining sainthood. But the Buddha taught clearly that these are entirely different. Only the Buddha could articulate this distinction.

Historically, some meditation masters later claimed superiority over the Buddha. They stated they had attained enlightenment and were equal to the Buddha. Yet when asked about the three knowledges and six supernatural powers – the full spiritual abilities of an Arhat – none possessed them. The teacher emphasized: "Only during the Buddha’s time could Arhats speak of such things. After the Buddha’s era, across many schools and lineages, no patriarch ever claimed this."

Because people listened more to those claiming deep understanding of the Buddha rather than the Buddha’s own words, Buddhism suffered a loss of blessings from merit and declined. The teacher admitted he once admired the Theravada tradition, but later realized that even studying Abhidhamma thoroughly should not lead to neglecting the Nikayas. Right view gradually became distorted.

Reverence for the Buddha – The Key to Reviving the Dharma

The teacher shared: "Believe that no one can surpass the Buddha. And understand that without sufficient reverence for the Buddha, no one can truly practice. Thus, I continuously cultivate this reverence for the Buddha and spend my life teaching only this reverence to all sentient beings."

Those who practice and cultivate absolute reverence for the Buddha, transmitting this feeling to others, are loved and praised by the devas. At death, they go to be with those they hold dear.

"Whoever practices and cultivates absolute reverence for the Buddha and transmits this feeling of reverence to everyone will be loved and praised by the devas."

Forgiveness Through Understanding Karma

Finally, deeply understanding the aggregate of consciousness and its levels of knowing helps us develop compassion, joy, and equanimity. Here, "equanimity" does not just mean letting go, but forgiveness.

The teacher gave the example of someone suffering from mental illness – whose thoughts are entirely erroneous. This stems from a history of verbally insulting worthy beings, gradually creating sickness in the mind/heart. Each insult creates a wound. And all of us carry a small portion of this mental sickness, because we too have distorted thoughts. Until right thinking is perfected – thinking correctly about everything – errors remain.

Understanding karma in this way allows us to forgive sentient beings. People commit evil due to karmic forces and the sickness of the mind/heart. Seeing this clearly, we cease blaming and are left only with compassion.

The dharma talk concluded with a reminder: always maintain reverence for the Buddha, cultivate right thinking, and expand your heart in forgiveness. This is the path leading back to the pure nature of the mind/heart.