Bonpu-no-jōshiki Jap., lit. “everyman’s consciousness”; ordinary consciousness as opposed to that of an enlightened person. Everyman’s consciousness is characterized by delusion, identification with an imaginary separate ego as subject opposed to “outside” objects, and, as a result of this, by the three poisons: aggression, desire, and stupidity (also ignorance, avidyā,). According to the Buddhist understanding, the bonpu-no-jōshiki is a sick state of mind, in which a person is not aware of his true nature or buddha-nature (busshō) and therefore remains imprisoned in the suffering-ridden cycle of life and death until he overcomes the deluded state of consciousness through enlightenment and the realization of the experience of enlightenment in everyday life (mujōdō-no-taigen).
If the way of Zen is seen as a process that leads from delusion to enlightenment, then the above described distinction between enlightened and unenlightened consciousness is appropriate. However, from the standpoint of enlightenment, “everyman’s consciousness” is not different from enlightened consciousness. Enlightened and unenlightened consciousness samsāra and nirvāna are identical in nature. The distinction consists only in that the person living in bonpu-no-jōshiki does not realize his perfection, which is present in every moment.
The value in the Zen view of “ordinary consciousness” is expressed in a famous kōan from the Wu-men-kuan (example 19). Hei jōshin kore dō.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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