The System of “Pa?ca-skandha”in Buddhism——A New Model of Information Processing

Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2018, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5) : 1268-1273.

PDF(400 KB)
PDF(400 KB)
Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2018, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5) : 1268-1273.

The System of “Pa?ca-skandha”in Buddhism——A New Model of Information Processing

Author information +
History +

Abstract

In Chinese traditional culture,cognitive psychology is not widely studied.Rather,the majority Chinese psychology studies tend to map some similar theories to the existing western psychology doctrines.Or,these studies in China focus on the mere notion of morality without addressing the more appropriate information processing theory.However, one can always turn to Buddhism—an important part of Chinese traditional culture—for theoretical reference regarding the mechanism of information processing.Pa?ca-skandha—the classic Buddhist doctrine,provides a new model upon which the information processing mechanism in Buddhism will be further discussed. The study is based on the Buddhist scripture like Abhidarmakosa-Sastra, Vij?āptimātratāsiddhi and so on.This study sheds light on the differences between the ways in which Chinese and Western methods are used in studies of cognition. The emphasis of this study is to showcase the characteristics and advantages of applying Buddhist cognitive theories in the study of psychology.Also,a new information processing model will be introduced to provide supplementary aspects to the modern theory of information processing. In Buddhism,information processing system,known as pa?ca-skandha,includes five parts: rūpa-skandha,vedanā-skandaha,samj?ā-skandha,samskāra-skandha, and vij?āna-skandha.1)The system of rūpa-skandha is the interface to input information. rūpa-skandha emphasizes that the physical information must be processed by senses,which in turn provokes psychological meanings. 2)Vedanā-skandaha is the emotional coding system.Vedanā means feelings.So,the collection of feelings is Vedanā-skandaha.It is inevitable that people will generate various kinds of emotions,such as love,hatred and so on when information being processed.In Buddhism,emotional coding is an indispensable component of information processing.3)The system of samj?ā-skandha is to integrate the primary information in the highest level.Getting image is the unique characteristic of Samj?ā-skandha.In this progress,information will be turned into a form of psychological representations or abstract symbols.The system of samj?ā-skandha covers the vast majority of cognitive processes.Concepts and languages are also formed in this system.But some conceptual notions like judgment,reasoning and analysis are not included in this system.4)The system of samskāra-skandha is the dynamic system in information processing.In Buddhism, the effective use and application of psychological dynamic system is significant, the reason being that samskara-skandha can maximize level of both the initiative and the autonomy of cognition.Concluded,this system provides energy and gives directions in processing information.5)The system of vij?āna-skandha is the monitoring system, and it is the most advanced system in five skandhas. The first four skandhas are all controlled by vij?āna-skandha, which has three main functions: information identification, information storage, and monitoring. Information output is the terminal. Storage and monitoring are supportive functions. These three functions work together to render the cognitive judgment. The information-processing model of pa?ca-skandha in this study not only explains the complete progress of information processing,but also presents the characteristics of Chinese cognitive psychology.The western cognitive psychology emphasizes on cold cognition,which differs from the model of Pa?ca-skandha.The pure cognition is not believed to exist in Buddhism.The nature of cognition is rather a progress,in which cognition is inevitably and closely related with emotion.Moreover,the aim of analysis for ego in pa?ca-skandha is to break egocentrism,which also can break the hinder that egocentrism brings to information processing,after which people can get the Buddhist wisdom.And it is very enlightening in the study of self-conscious in the field of artificial intelligence.

Key words

pa?ca-skandha / rūpa-skandha / vedanā-skandaha / samj?ā-skandha / samskāra-skandha / vij?āna-skandha / information-processing model

Cite this article

Download Citations
The System of “Pa?ca-skandha”in Buddhism——A New Model of Information Processing[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2018, 41(5): 1268-1273
PDF(400 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/