user5025: My friend was healthy and normal. There was a sudden bleeding in her brain due to an AVM 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.

user111: 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) 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.
The situation is probably different from patient to patient.

5025: <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>
 111: <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>
