Unenlightened consciousness (Buddhism)

In an unenlightened state one is unaware of one's true nature; the state is that of delusion in which one identifies with one's own individual ego which is, in fact, imaginary. This separate ego sets itself up in opposition to apparently external objects, thus resulting in hatred or aggression, desire (including all attachments and covetousness) and stupidity (ignorance), known as the 'three poisons' - [sandoku]

. It is a state of spiritual sickness and imprisonment, of subjection to the everlasting cycle of suffering, of birth and death, until a way is found out of delusion into enlightenment and the perfection of one's true nature is realized. One then sees that his enlightened state - [nirvana]

- is in truth identical in nature with his previous unenlightened state - [samsara]

. It is simply one's perception that has changed.

Tsung-mi, a chronicler of Ch'an (Zen), indicated the process whereby, in the unenlightened aspect of alaya-vijnana, intrinsic enlightenment is gradually overlaid by delusion and, in the enlightened aspect, the delusion systematically removed. Unenlightenment is the second stage in the downward process, as one "falls asleep" and "forgets who one is". It is counteracted by sudden enlightenment.