Vijñāna

Vijñāna is a Sanskrit word that refers to the mental faculty of knowing or consciousness. It is one of the five Skandhas or aspects of human existence in Buddhist philosophy.

Imagine you have a special power in your mind that helps you understand things. Think of this power as a way for you to know and be aware of what is happening around you. This is the vijñāna.

For example, when you touch a hot stove, your vijñāna tells you that it is hot and it hurts. When you see a red apple, your vijñāna tells you that it is sweet and delicious to eat. When you hear a loud noise, your vijñāna tells you that it is scary or threatening.

Our vijñāna also helps us to remember things that we have learned or experienced before. That is why we can recognize our parents, friends, and pets even after a long time.

In Buddhism, vijñāna is also associated with the idea that our perception of reality is subjective, influenced by our thoughts and past experiences. So, sometimes our vijñāna can deceive us, making us see or hear things that are not really there.

Overall, vijñāna is the part of our minds that helps us perceive and understand the world around us.