<p>Whether a person can hear, see, smell, taste etc. while in a coma is probably a question for medical science. </p>

<p>From a Buddhist perspective, it can be seen as a case of senses being shut off as in when you are in deep sleep. Only <a href="http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/b_f/bhavanga_sota.htm">Bhavaanga Cittas(life continuum)</a> are present in deep(dreamless) sleep. </p>

<p>Alternatively, it could just be a case of the patient not being able to respond in anyway. Here's <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/geoffrey-lean-i-was-in-a-coma-but-i-could-hear-every-word-415327.html">such an instance</a>.</p>

<p>The situation is probably different from patient to patient.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-23T09:26:37.513Z
Thank you very much, specially for the encouraging example case given.
Hwathanie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-23T06:24:07.270Z
2016-08-23T06:24:07.270Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>My friend was healthy and normal. There was a sudden bleeding in her brain due to an <a href="http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/TypesofStroke/HemorrhagicBleeds/What-Is-an-Arteriovenous-Malformation-AVM_UCM_310099_Article.jsp#mainContent" rel="nofollow">AVM</a> and went through a serious brain surgery. Now around 3 weeks she is in a coma status. How can I understand this in Buddhism. Does she hear us? Can she feel what is going on? Is she in pain? Thank you.</p>

<lay-buddhism><mind><pain>
How to understand a patient's coma status in Buddhism
# How to understand a patient's coma status in Buddhism

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-23)

My friend was healthy and normal. There was a sudden bleeding in her brain due to an [AVM](http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/TypesofStroke/HemorrhagicBleeds/What-Is-an-Arteriovenous-Malformation-AVM_UCM_310099_Article.jsp#mainContent) and went through a serious brain surgery. Now around 3 weeks she is in a coma status. How can I understand this in Buddhism. Does she hear us? Can she feel what is going on? Is she in pain? Thank you.

**Tags:** lay-buddhism, mind, pain


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-23. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Whether a person can hear, see, smell, taste etc. while in a coma is probably a question for medical science.

From a Buddhist perspective, it can be seen as a case of senses being shut off as in when you are in deep sleep. Only [Bhavaanga Cittas(life continuum)](http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/b_f/bhavanga_sota.htm) are present in deep(dreamless) sleep.

Alternatively, it could just be a case of the patient not being able to respond in anyway. Here's [such an instance](http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/geoffrey-lean-i-was-in-a-coma-but-i-could-hear-every-word-415327.html).

The situation is probably different from patient to patient.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much, specially for the encouraging example case given.  

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