The psychic factors described above accompany consciousness. Thus consciousness does not arise in isolation. It always arises together with a number of psychic factors. Consciousness and psychic factors, though external to one another in analysis, are in reality intimately and inseparably connected with one another. Thus consciousness and psychic factors are related to one another by way of association. Hence consciousness in its purest form does not function in utter isolation and separation. It is always accompanied by some psychic factors. This means that consciousness, in spite of being egoless, is not contentedless because it has psychic factors as a content. In so far it contains something, consciousness can not be regarded as nothingness. It is " consciousness and something more " Consciousness is said to be wholesome or unwholesome according to its contents, i.e. psychic factors.
consciousness is defined by intentionality, that is, consciousness is consciousness of an object. The relationship between subject and object is called contact. It however is related to the object with the help of six sense organs, viz, eye, ear, nose tongue, body, and mind. Whatever one sees though the eye, hears though the ear, smells though the nose, touches though the body, recognizes though the mind - all these one knows by consciousness. Thus the triad of consciousness, sense organs and object is accepted in Theravada Buddhism. The coming together of the three is contact.
By THE BUDDHA'S Core Teachings
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