Robin Beck

Eighteen Sensory Realms, Dharma Dhatu, Juhachi Kai & Science

Mindfulness & the Skandhas
Ki to Revitalization
Focus the Senses; the Mind Follows
Eighteen Sensory Relams, dharma dhatu, or 十八界 {Juhachi Kai}
Sensory Purification
Cleansing the Doors of perception
六根清浄 {rokkon-shojo}

The concept of juhachi-kai, dharma {little d} dhatu, or 18 sensory domains consists of three parts. These are the 6 indriya or sensory organs, each of which has its respective vijnana or consciousness, each of which has a dharma or object of sensation. The Six Sensory Organs {Sad-indriya} are:

1. The Eyes
2. The Ears
3. The Nose
4. The Mouth
5. The Body
6. The Mind

Each of these gives rise to a sensory consciousness or vijnana. The Six Sensory Consciousnesses {Sad-vijnana/vinnana} are:

1. Cokshurvijnana, visual sense; sight or vision
2. Shtrotavijnana, auditory sense; hearing or audition
3. Ghranavijnana, olfactory sense; smell or olfaction
4. Jhivavijnana or gustatory sense; taste, or gustation
5. Kayavijnana or cutaneous sense; touch or tactition. Possibly the senses of posture and balance go here.
6. Manovijnana or Perception. Perhaps; Balance, Posture?

Each of these 6 faculties has a sensory object or phenomena

1. Shape & Color
2. Sound
3. Aroma
4. Flavor
5. Texture
6. Phenomena

By combining the 6 organs, their consciousnesses, and their objects; we have the eighteen {18} sensory realms, dharma dhatu, or domains {十八界]} {juhachi-kai}.

Modern Science, as far as I know, would not include perception of phenomenon as a 6th sense; I suspect that would be more a function of cognition. However, modern Science evidently does recognition three senses other than the basic five. These are:

The Kinesthetic Sense or Proprioception: I understand this as the Senses of Bodily Posture, Facial Expressions, and Movement. It seems to be related to body language. Some include the physical aspects of emotion, such as felling hot when upset, butterflies when anxious, or the chill in the spine that accompanies a flash of insight. It might also relate to 'feeling' an unseen presence. I suspect that this is the aspect of the sensation of feeling that is confused with and closely connected to emotion.

Vestibular Sense or Sense of Balance. It seems to be closely tied to the Sense of movement. I suspect most people are unaware of this, unless it malfunctions. I have a condition called vestibularopathy. Many people experience this at times. For example, imagine sitting in a parked car, or stopped at a red light. The auto next to yours moves. You might have a sensation that your car is moving. I am like that all the time.

The Organic Sense or Organic Sense: I am not sure how this is really different from Kinesthetic Sense. It seems to be awareness of physiological processes, such as the heart beat, the breathe, being hungry, nausea, and so on. Some seem to include the physical aspects of emotion, such as feeling hot when upset, butterflies when anxious, or the chill in the spine that accompanies a flash of insight here. l

I suspect parts each of these could be reduced the body sense of Buddhism, or they might be aspects of the 6th vijnana or manovijnana. I tend to go with the a mix of both. Whatever model we use to sort them out, these three senses might be an aspect of Mindfulness of Body, Kaya Sati/Smrti.

The body, heart, mind, & soul looks at Consciousness in more depth.

Posted by rbeck at August 20, 2007 06:06 PM

Posted by rbeck at November 25, 2007 05:15 PM