[Buddha-l] the seeds of manas and achetypes

[Elvin Eldridge]

On 7/7/09, Erik Hoogcarspel <jehms at xs4all.nl> wrote:
> Jayarava schreef:
>> -- On Mon, 6/7/09, Elvin Eldridge <elvineldridge at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> It seems to me like some ideas of the Yogacarin can be
>>> compared to the West like Rev. Tagawa talks about the seeds of the manas
>>> consciousness. I think they can be compared to the archetypes of the
>>> famous psychiatrist Carl Jung like Mr. Metcaf mentioned.
>>>
>>> Can we say they are almost the same?
>>>
>>
>> Hi Elvin
>>
>> As I understand it they are quite different. The Buddhist idea of "seeds
>> of the manas" is that these are laid down by our behaviour (karma) and
>> ripen as sensations (vedanā) at some later stage. Jung on the other hand
>> suggested that behaviour is shaped by the archetypes of the unconscious
>> which are inherent to human beings. The two processes are working in
>> different directions, see? I suppose the inherent nature of the archetypes
>> reminds me of Buddha-nature and in some Buddhist schools Yogacara ideas
>> are combined with Buddha-nature ideas: with Buddha seeds being the result.
>> But archetypes are morally neutral and may be played out positively or
>> negatively - which doesn't fit the idea of 'seeds' ripening depending on
>> the action which created them
>>
>> Of course Jung is known to have been influenced by Asian ideas and it is
>> possible that there is some cross-over, but I don't see it in this case.
>> Maybe others have different opinions - we do have some Yogacara experts on
>> hand...
>>
>>
>>
> Another possibility is the idea of logoi spermatikoi from the stoics,
> see http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/human/hu-gfk.htm
>

But I think that this idea of sperms comes from the Gods. I think that
the seeds of the manos come from being human generated. As Jayarava
said though the seeds might be morally bad, which I will have to check
as I read more of the book.

Elvin