Mind
T N Dhar Kundan
There is a saving in Sanskrit. Na Hi Maanushat Shreshthataram Hi Kanchit. There is nothing superior to a man. This man is a compound of four things, three visible and the fourth invisible. The first is the body, a product of the earth the second is the mind made of a portion of the moon. The third is the intellect, a part of the sun and the fourth is the soul, an invisible entity. The portion of moon, the mind is the aspect called Manu because of which he is called Maanav in Sanskrit and perhaps man in English now let us see what Shri Gita says Indriyaniparanyahur-Indriycbhyah- parammanah, manasastu para buddhihyobud dhehparatastusah the senses are superior to the body, the mind is superior to the senses, the intellect is superior to the mind and what is superior to the intellect is the soul B.G. 342.
The body is the vehicle for action, senses are subtle but sharp to guide and execute these actions. Still more subtle is the mind, the store house of thought and resolve further subtlety is in the discerning and discriminating mind and the subtlest is the in-dweller soul. These four aspects, from gross to subtle and subtlest together constitute the man. Mind is an organ that is active in all the three positions of consciousness, unconsciousness and sub-consciousness. It encompasses all the three aspects of experience based knowledge, image generated desire and practical action. Mind is a medium for the self of a man that helps him to progress towards perfection. It is through the mind that one can visualize divinity in addition to the normal activities the mind is capable of carrying out supra mental functions as well.
Mind is said to be inanimate but is illuminated by the soul. Therefore, it acts in unison with the soul at the higher level. This cooperation, coordination and collaboration between the mind and the soul is termed as Manoyog which when loosely translated could mean focus or concentration and interest. The functions of the mind are beyond the realm of reasoning, logic and testing. It has an inclination which when repeated time and again becomes habit or characteristic. The master of the mind is conscience, which rules over it. The mind processes the external objects and its actions are three-fold, perception, experience and resolve mind is the center of thought and there is some kind of uniformity between the individual mind and cosmic mind. This justifies the old sanskrit adage,
Yathapindelathabrahmande-As in the individual body so in the universal body mind is the controlling energy of a body and the body is the center of this controlling energy mind is the source of perception, direction and action from it emanate desire, expectations, thought, dilemma, determination, resolve, hope and anxieties. Thoughts are generated both in the mind as also in the intellect. The difference is
that the thoughts in mind are perceptive and those in the intellect are creative. The mind is, therefore, the cause of such a thought process as is based on feeling and perception. It is a bridge between the gross senses and the intellect
Yatha pinde tatha brahmande --As in the individual body so in the universal body'. Mind is the controlling energy of a body and the body is the center of this controlling energy. Mind is the source of perception, direction and action. From it emanate desire, expectations, thought, dilemma, determi- nation, resolve, hope and anxieties.
The supreme divine has two types of nature, superior and inferior. The inferior is eightfold and one of the eight is the mind. It is uncontrollable and like the air difficult to curb. Yet it is through mind that other senses can be kept under check. Thoughts originate from the mind and get expressed through speech and executed through sense organs. According to Kashmir Shaivism mind, intellect and ego are the interior sense organs of a man. Mind is the seat of management of actions, intellect the seat of knowledge and the ego is the seat of realization of the self-existence according to Yoga Vasishtha mind has eighteen different conditions, some psychological, some ethical, some physical and some ultra-physical. These are as under-
1. When engaged in managing actions it is mind.
2. When it acquires knowledge it is intellect.
3. When on self-awareness it assumes individuality it is ego.
4. When it is fickle and restless it is called 'chitta' - a form of mind.
5. On losing poise when it thinks of some desired object, it is called imagination.
6. When it dwells on pre-experienced matter it is known as memory.
7. When it hankers after sense objects it becomes lust.
8. On realizing imperfection when it is keen on an achievement it is action.
9. Even after full knowledge if it fails to be a distinct pure conscious entity it is called 'avidhya',
ignorance.
10. Sometimes it overshadows the true self-existence by an imagined cover, it is called 'mala' or
impurity.
11. When it perceives existence as non- existence and vice versa, it is called 'maya' or illusion.
12. Being the source of the experience from sense objects, it is known as nature.
13. As conscious being it is a being.
14. When it weaves a world of its own, it is treated as brahma or the supreme and given different names like, Viraat, Sanatana, Narayana, Isha, Prajapati
15. Since it can travel anywhere, it is called 'Aativahik deh' - mobile body.
16. It gives pleasure from objects and so is called senses.
17. It is also known as 'Puryashtak' or eightfold since
along with intellect, ego and five senses of cognition it makes a group of eight.
18. It is both a subject and an object, as body and a pot respectively.
The first seven are psychological, next four ethical, next three spiritual and the last four are physical. The word 'Mana' or mind is used in multifarious senses even in ordinary language for example we say, 'put your mind in your work here mind is meant to be an organ of concentration. Then we say, 'my mind does not allow me to do that. Here mind denotes discriminating wisdom. Again we say, 'i have no mind to eat this fruit. Here the mind becomes a center of tastes and interest when we say, 'by seeing this scene my mind was disturbed here the mind denotes the feeling of a heart. Sometimes we say, "it struck my mind and i came here' this shows the power of resolution of the mind. These examples can be multiplied to show different facets of the human mind.
All this raises certain basic questions as to what is mind and what are its activities. The answer is found in Yajurveda in the mantra titled 'Shiva-Sankalpa' although it is in the form of a prayer asking the lord to make our minds full of noble resolve, yet it also defines the mind and its functions. It says that the mind is an illumination that carries us forward. It is within us and helps release ourselves. It does not decay. It is fast and speedy, thoughtful, knowledgeable and patient. It is within our heart and carries the Veda mantras of all the Vedas. As for its functions it travels far and wide while one is awake as also when one is in deep slumber. It is with this mind that the noble persons perform Yajna. It is that entity without which no action is possible. It is through this eternal mind that we carry everything relating to past, present and future. The mind is the guiding star and takes us everywhere. It is the center of all our thoughts and resolve.
Aristotle called it a rational soul. Plato categorized it into three types, the rational, the j. Spirited and the appetitive. This more or less corresponds to our traditional categorization of 'Sattva', 'Rajas' And 'Tamas'. Milton also has mentioned the capacity of the mind when he said, "mind can make hell of heaven and heaven of hell'. There is a similar idea conveyed in a Hindi song, which says. Man Ke Hare Haar Hai, Manke- Jeete Jeet-if you lose your mind (thinking capacity) you are a loser and if your mind wins you are victorious.
There is no doubt that actions follow thoughts. As the thinking of a person so shall be his actions. His resolve will determine his deeds if the resolve is good the actions will be good. If the ideas and thoughts are pious the deeds will be benign. That gives a place of pride to the mind.
There is a saying Manaivamanushy Anamkaaranam Bandha- Mokshayoh-the mind itself is the cause of bondage or liberation for people. If it moves towards attractions it binds and if it goes towards freedom it liberates. It is for this reason that in this 'Shiva-Sankalpa' the devout prays to the lord that his mind be full of noble resolve. He prays that the thoughts emanating from his mind be good, pure, beneficial and flawless so that his actions too are pure, noble and beneficial. This prayer ensures that we tread the path of righteousness so that we are benign for others too. Then and then alone shall our life be meaningful and purposeful. There cannot be a better prayer than seeking pure mind that will result in pious deeds.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in the article above are T N Dhar ‘Kundan’ s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright disclaimer under section 107 of the copyright act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy:- T N Dhar ‘Kundan’ and 2023 February Spade A Spade
Mind
T N Dhar Kundan
There is a saving in Sanskrit. Na Hi Maanushat Shreshthataram Hi Kanchit. There is nothing superior to a man. This man is a compound of four things, three visible and the fourth invisible. The first is the body, a product of the earth the second is the mind made of a portion of the moon. The third is the intellect, a part of the sun and the fourth is the soul, an invisible entity. The portion of moon, the mind is the aspect called Manu because of which he is called Maanav in Sanskrit and perhaps man in English now let us see what Shri Gita says Indriyaniparanyahur-Indriycbhyah- parammanah, manasastu para buddhihyobud dhehparatastusah the senses are superior to the body, the mind is superior to the senses, the intellect is superior to the mind and what is superior to the intellect is the soul B.G. 342.
The body is the vehicle for action, senses are subtle but sharp to guide and execute these actions. Still more subtle is the mind, the store house of thought and resolve further subtlety is in the discerning and discriminating mind and the subtlest is the in-dweller soul. These four aspects, from gross to subtle and subtlest together constitute the man. Mind is an organ that is active in all the three positions of consciousness, unconsciousness and sub-consciousness. It encompasses all the three aspects of experience based knowledge, image generated desire and practical action. Mind is a medium for the self of a man that helps him to progress towards perfection. It is through the mind that one can visualize divinity in addition to the normal activities the mind is capable of carrying out supra mental functions as well.
Mind is said to be inanimate but is illuminated by the soul. Therefore, it acts in unison with the soul at the higher level. This cooperation, coordination and collaboration between the mind and the soul is termed as Manoyog which when loosely translated could mean focus or concentration and interest. The functions of the mind are beyond the realm of reasoning, logic and testing. It has an inclination which when repeated time and again becomes habit or characteristic. The master of the mind is conscience, which rules over it. The mind processes the external objects and its actions are three-fold, perception, experience and resolve mind is the center of thought and there is some kind of uniformity between the individual mind and cosmic mind. This justifies the old sanskrit adage,
Yathapindelathabrahmande-As in the individual body so in the universal body mind is the controlling energy of a body and the body is the center of this controlling energy mind is the source of perception, direction and action from it emanate desire, expectations, thought, dilemma, determination, resolve, hope and anxieties. Thoughts are generated both in the mind as also in the intellect. The difference is
that the thoughts in mind are perceptive and those in the intellect are creative. The mind is, therefore, the cause of such a thought process as is based on feeling and perception. It is a bridge between the gross senses and the intellect
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Yatha pinde tatha brahmande --As in the individual body so in the universal body'. Mind is the controlling energy of a body and the body is the center of this controlling energy. Mind is the source of perception, direction and action. From it emanate desire, expectations, thought, dilemma, determi- nation, resolve, hope and anxieties. |
The supreme divine has two types of nature, superior and inferior. The inferior is eightfold and one of the eight is the mind. It is uncontrollable and like the air difficult to curb. Yet it is through mind that other senses can be kept under check. Thoughts originate from the mind and get expressed through speech and executed through sense organs. According to Kashmir Shaivism mind, intellect and ego are the interior sense organs of a man. Mind is the seat of management of actions, intellect the seat of knowledge and the ego is the seat of realization of the self-existence according to Yoga Vasishtha mind has eighteen different conditions, some psychological, some ethical, some physical and some ultra-physical. These are as under-
1. When engaged in managing actions it is mind.
2. When it acquires knowledge it is intellect.
3. When on self-awareness it assumes individuality it is ego.
4. When it is fickle and restless it is called 'chitta' - a form of mind.
5. On losing poise when it thinks of some desired object, it is called imagination.
6. When it dwells on pre-experienced matter it is known as memory.
7. When it hankers after sense objects it becomes lust.
8. On realizing imperfection when it is keen on an achievement it is action.
9. Even after full knowledge if it fails to be a distinct pure conscious entity it is called 'avidhya',
ignorance.
10. Sometimes it overshadows the true self-existence by an imagined cover, it is called 'mala' or
impurity.
11. When it perceives existence as non- existence and vice versa, it is called 'maya' or illusion.
12. Being the source of the experience from sense objects, it is known as nature.
13. As conscious being it is a being.
14. When it weaves a world of its own, it is treated as brahma or the supreme and given different names like, Viraat, Sanatana, Narayana, Isha, Prajapati
15. Since it can travel anywhere, it is called 'Aativahik deh' - mobile body.
16. It gives pleasure from objects and so is called senses.
17. It is also known as 'Puryashtak' or eightfold since
along with intellect, ego and five senses of cognition it makes a group of eight.
18. It is both a subject and an object, as body and a pot respectively.
The first seven are psychological, next four ethical, next three spiritual and the last four are physical. The word 'Mana' or mind is used in multifarious senses even in ordinary language for example we say, 'put your mind in your work here mind is meant to be an organ of concentration. Then we say, 'my mind does not allow me to do that. Here mind denotes discriminating wisdom. Again we say, 'i have no mind to eat this fruit. Here the mind becomes a center of tastes and interest when we say, 'by seeing this scene my mind was disturbed here the mind denotes the feeling of a heart. Sometimes we say, "it struck my mind and i came here' this shows the power of resolution of the mind. These examples can be multiplied to show different facets of the human mind.
All this raises certain basic questions as to what is mind and what are its activities. The answer is found in Yajurveda in the mantra titled 'Shiva-Sankalpa' although it is in the form of a prayer asking the lord to make our minds full of noble resolve, yet it also defines the mind and its functions. It says that the mind is an illumination that carries us forward. It is within us and helps release ourselves. It does not decay. It is fast and speedy, thoughtful, knowledgeable and patient. It is within our heart and carries the Veda mantras of all the Vedas. As for its functions it travels far and wide while one is awake as also when one is in deep slumber. It is with this mind that the noble persons perform Yajna. It is that entity without which no action is possible. It is through this eternal mind that we carry everything relating to past, present and future. The mind is the guiding star and takes us everywhere. It is the center of all our thoughts and resolve.
Aristotle called it a rational soul. Plato categorized it into three types, the rational, the j. Spirited and the appetitive. This more or less corresponds to our traditional categorization of 'Sattva', 'Rajas' And 'Tamas'. Milton also has mentioned the capacity of the mind when he said, "mind can make hell of heaven and heaven of hell'. There is a similar idea conveyed in a Hindi song, which says. Man Ke Hare Haar Hai, Manke- Jeete Jeet-if you lose your mind (thinking capacity) you are a loser and if your mind wins you are victorious.
There is no doubt that actions follow thoughts. As the thinking of a person so shall be his actions. His resolve will determine his deeds if the resolve is good the actions will be good. If the ideas and thoughts are pious the deeds will be benign. That gives a place of pride to the mind.
There is a saying Manaivamanushy Anamkaaranam Bandha- Mokshayoh-the mind itself is the cause of bondage or liberation for people. If it moves towards attractions it binds and if it goes towards freedom it liberates. It is for this reason that in this 'Shiva-Sankalpa' the devout prays to the lord that his mind be full of noble resolve. He prays that the thoughts emanating from his mind be good, pure, beneficial and flawless so that his actions too are pure, noble and beneficial. This prayer ensures that we tread the path of righteousness so that we are benign for others too. Then and then alone shall our life be meaningful and purposeful. There cannot be a better prayer than seeking pure mind that will result in pious deeds.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in the article above are T N Dhar ‘Kundan’ s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright disclaimer under section 107 of the copyright act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy:- T N Dhar ‘Kundan’ and 2023 February Spade A Spade