VARIOUS ASPECTS OF MIND
We often talk about the mind. But what exactly is the mind - there is not much knowledge about it. If Most of the time we feel that the brain is distinct from mind, but could not find an accurate hypothesis supporting this subject. We all agree that though mind is not visible , yet it forms an important part of the personality.
The existence of every soul is based on three pillars - body, mind and spirit. Mind acts as a bridge between body and spirit. The human spirit is the most important element of personality that empowers both body and mind and even regulates it. It is constant, subtle, conscious and quiescent.
Our physical body is the outer part of the personality, while mind forms the inner or subtle part of the personality. The body and mind are both variable and their capabilities are limited. Mind is more powerful than the body and spirit is more powerful than the mind. That is why the body is tired easily but the mind remains active even after the body is tired. The disbursement of body's energy takes place by the consummation of daily task. Body requires food, rest and sleep in order to systematize its energy. The nature of mind is to think. Various types of ideas continuously move in the mind. Mind keep us entangled in too many emotions, analysis and reasoning. Because of this complication, there exists a condition which creates confusion that alienates us from the truth. Thoughts result in the loss of energy of the mind as they are also considered a form of energy. Much of our spiritual energy is consumed by thinking a lot that has an effect on the body. That is why those who think a lot have less physical abilities.
This variable mind when becomes quiet in sleep state, it is closer to soul because of which we feel more healthy and refreshed after waking up. This means that when mind is allowed to relax, the feeling of being happy and refreshed can be stretched longer.
A human mind acts like a projector device. If this mind is turned towards GOD, it reflects the nature of GOD. God is infinite by nature so we also develop the quality of infinity . But if this very mind is directed towards worldly affairs, wisdom gets limited . Limitation of wisdom brings confusion and turbulence which in turn gives rise to conflicts. As we cannot see our reflection when there is deposition of soil and dust on the glass, similarly, we cannot experience the truth of the spirit and its power when the dust is deposited on our mind in the form of sin and ignorance. The human spirit acquires the color of the object near to it. This is the very reason that when the spirit is near the mind that is impure, it acquires the form of mind and despite of being Independent, infinite and supreme, it bounds to get bonded. Because of this reason, there are directives in every creed and culture to pay more attention towards controlling of mind. Soul identifies its true form through Intense and regular practice of spiritual ethics , penance and meditation . But to reveal its actual form it is necessary for the person to act in a very systematic way. If the mind is the cause of all problems, the solution of all problems lies in the knowledge of the soul.
FORMATION OF MIND
According to Lord Buddha, whatever we are today that is the manifestation of our old thoughts . Any single thought occurred in any condition does not decay no matter if that thought in psychic or changed into a form of physical task. Every thought necessarily bears certain fruit or result. The time and place to reap the result is determined by the divine power. Until this fruit is not experienced or beard, it is stored in the mind in the form of seeds known as sanskaar.
Each and every thought has three stages - First stage: - the stage when thought arises of which we have no knowledge. Second stage - the stage when thought reaches the upper surface of mind. Third stage - the stage when thought exits out and it gets executed. When thought is articulated with desire, it is called will power. Because of will power subtle thoughts take shape into Deeds or task.
The compact form of thoughts is emotions. The thoughts which are made strong by often repetitions are expressed in the form of emotions. Thoughts are originated by desires and desires are the collective forms of values. Now the question arises as to what causes impression/sanskaar to be in certain form. This is due to deeds whose fruits we could not bear in our previous life.
Any act, whether it is a physical or mental or done by speech, it bears mainly two outcomes. Time and place of outcomes is determined by the intensity and quality of deeds. The first result is reflected in the physical world, which is referred as macro result. The second is that subtle results are stored as values/sanskaar in mind. Sanskar or impressions make the tendencies, which make nature. Manifestation of ignorance, fear, desires and ego including several other psychic characteristics etc. depends on the multiplicity of values. Inspired by these values, tendency towards performing certain actions of similar type becomes higher which gradually results in stronger values. When these values are strong enough, they rise above the surface of the mind and are strongly expressed through body and speech. Each person's psychological reaction to circumstances or to be associated with happiness and sorrow is the way of expression of psychic form of values only. Being subjugated by these values, the mind is embroiled in deeds of various kinds and become a partaker of happiness and sorrow and this birth and death cycle continuously goes on.
MIND AND REBIRTH
Humans have three main bodies - Sthul (gross),
Sukshma (subtle) and Karan (casual) Sharir.
Karan Sharir or Casual body creates Sthul and Sukshma Sharir, that is why it is called Karan Sharir. Because of it we experience consciousness.
Sthul Sharir or Gross body is referred to as physical body and is made up of five elements such as sky, air, fire, water and earth -. Food is required for its nutritional needs. It has some limits.
Sukhsma Sharir or Subtle body is made by the combination of five prans, ten senses, mind and intellect. Thought and emotion nurtures subtle body so it does not take time for moving in and out. Subtle body is inhabited by mind, intellect, psyche , ego and the casual body . This very subtle body undergoes re-birth process. The remainder of the fruit of deeds of previous births and the experience gained by deeds of previous birth, both are stored in the subtle body in the form of values and enters in a new body along with the soul. These values mature over time and create nature and some necessary conditions.
Nature and conditions are determined on this basis that in the deeds which are still not used up, have excess of which kind of deeds. If you have done good deeds, you are born in a wealthy family and get good parents and home birth, because of which you get good education and a job which proves to be helpful in leading a smooth life. Multiplication of good deeds sometimes takes place in the form of virtuous trend rather than in the form of wealth affluence. Favourable conditions become partners in the development of Sattva Guna thereby helping in emergence of love towards God. In contrast to the plethora of evil deeds, one is born into odd situations where there are lacks of amenities or you do not get good companionship due to which life is full of difficulties. The deeds of any person that are remaining and is to be borne in the present life, they are either not entirely good or entirely bad but are a mix of good and bad deeds. Based on these combinations, Sattavic, Rajasic and Tamasic trend is built.
TRIPLE ASPECT OF TENDENCY OF MIND
The human mind is made up of three components - Sattva, Raja and Tama. Based on the quantity and quality of values, any one attribute becomes prominent but according to time, other elements also show their influence. Because of Raja element, mind develops inclination towards performing deeds while because of worldly influences it remains in fantasy. Because of Tama element, passivity and confusion arises in the mind. Because of Sattva element, mind experiences peace and there is emersion of wisdom. On account of influence of these three properties, the mind is constantly changing.
On the basis of different proportions of these qualities, mind is expressed in six forms: Fear, love, hate, joy, lust and state of deflection. Love is a normal state of mind, but this very love happens in excess amount, it refuses to understand the feasibility and wisdom and cause imbalance in the society and nature. Excessive love is the origin trends such as power and expectations which is then expressed as fear, depression and sorrow at a later stage. The negative form of mind can create confusion between understanding and wisdom which leads to inaccuracy in the deeds and fruits of the deeds gets bond imposed. Similarly, other qualities of the mind, such as hatred and desire etc. do not allow form of action to stay pure. Deflection or boredom is also a negative quality of mind. The excessiveness of any quality than required causes unhappiness by associating with other negative qualities of mind.
DEPARTMENTS OF MIND
Our mind is active on three levels - Conscious, Subconscious and Super conscious.
The conscious part of the mind enables us to engage with the world and oneself. The conscious mind receives information through the five senses. The conscious mind takes decision by using thought, reasoning, theory and speech and consummation of mundane tasks takes place.
Into the subconscious mind, unfulfilled desires, the experience gained by deeds of previous lives and other memories, are stored in the form of seeds. As a result of the actions of previous lives, the intelligence which is built stays in subconscious mind only. This wisdom affects the decisions of the current birth. At all times and analogous to the situation, it appears on the ground of the conscious mind. We can recall any old event only due to the knowledge, experience, memory, etc are stored in the subconscious mind. This mind is active even when the conscious mind is not functioning. For example, while driving, we can do two things at a time, drive and talk to someone or listen to songs. While talking time or listening to songs, our conscious mind is active while the inspiration for that the car is running comes from the subconscious mind because we are able to do that work without being aware towards it. In whatever deeds we perform in life, it has the participation of both the conscious mind and the subconscious mind.
Whenever a task is repeated again and again, according to its repeat frequency and intensity of that information, experience, knowledge is stored in the subconscious mind. The intensity of that accumulated experience is responsible for the reaction of the situation. For example, when someone smokes for the first time, his experience gets stored in the subconscious mind and that stored experience in the subconscious mind, excites again and again for smoking. The conscious mind knows that smoking is not good for health, in spite of that a man keeps on smoking. This example also proves that when there will be differences between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind, the winner will be the subconscious mind only. So it is very difficult to erase the experience accompanying memory conditionings from the subconscious mind. Another example is the existence of a sense of I. No one teaches this self-identification word to a small child. He himself, on development of little understanding, considers his authority on things and beloved.
The state of super conscious mind is the state of Yogis. When the task is performed only by the spirit beyond the range of body and mind, sense of I and others or sense of duality is finished. To attain the state of super conscious mind, restraining both the conscious and subconscious mind is imperative.
MIND AND ITS FUNCTIONING
Due to our limited approach, we are not in a position to understand the relationship between mind and action. Tendency of the mind is efferent in nature or oriented towards worldly affairs. Due to this reason there is an innate attraction towards worldly objects. The second tendency of the mind is that it effortlessly connects itself to negative visitations and easily forgets the positive visitations. The third trend of mind is that it is extremely fickle, that means it cannot last much longer on any thought or idea. For this very reason we are in the swirl of ideas all day and at night also we have the same view of unfulfilled ideas in the form of dreams. The fourth tendency of the mind is that it continually giving birth to new desires and tries to find happiness in other new objects or people. These entire property is seen more only in those individuals whose deeds are not pure.
Karma (deeds) connects both physical and psychic worlds. Deeds performed for the cause of the physical world, have impact even on the mind. The experience of deed done is stored in the subconscious mind. Subconscious mind keeps reminding the same to the conscious mind and repeatedly urges to perform a specific type of task. That particular action again nurtures the same very trend. That particular trend affects the specific activity unless and until the conscious mind determines firmly that according to the ominous trend, no task to be performed. For example when anger comes in one situation then that one time manifestation of wrath in the physical form comes across the opposite person as being offended. At the same time there is loss of energy of the person who is angry in the form of speech due to which he also experiences physical fatigue and mental disturbance. It was the result at that moment but the sacrament of anger is stored in the subconscious mind in subtle form. The subconscious mind repeatedly, by way of mental repetition of that incident through memories, entangles us in the arguments. Because of this relationship with the event, persists even after the event has ended. Now in another form, whenever any untoward incident occurs, the sacrament of anger again and again inspires to get angry. On being angry again and again, culture of anger becomes predominant and any minor incident becomes the cause of rageful behavior. It is the eternal rule that wisdom and knowledge cannot go along with anger. Due to the nature of recurrence of anger, it becomes stronger; as a result the power of knowledge and wisdom begins to fade automatically. The Jeev/ person loses control over himself in a continuous gradual process on account of divine properties getting feeble. This sacrament of anger alongwith a subtle body enters into a new body. That is why in some children there exists an overdose of anger from childhood.
There are three major causes for the cycle of births and deaths - Ignorance, Desire and Implantation of Ego.
The mind is the only basis of these three reasons. Because of ignorance, we give rise to many ideas with the desire to achieve happiness. We make those ideas strong by repeating them frequently. Due to this the strong will power associates with strong ideas and try to find the path of implementing them. If those desires are not fulfilled we feel sad and in case if it is fulfilled, full satisfaction is not derived. Even if satisfaction is derived during that time period, that is transient because the entire things of the world are unstable and so the happiness derived from them is also temporary. Various wishes end stability of mind due to which the conscience of right and wrong also fades. We recklessly get involved in such activities whose long term consequences are not good. When an object receives her wish come true pleasure to We attach ourselves to the pleasures derived from the deeds which is done with the aim to fulfil desires. This ego that is the imposition of I is only the cause of bondage.
MIND AND DREAM -
Body, Mind and Spirit, all three of them co-ordinate with each other on different levels. These levels are - wakeful, dream, dreamless sleep and Turiya ( The fourth) level.
In waking condition of jeev, soul is fully connected to the physical body. It means spirit is connected to the external world. This condition is necessary for performing daily tasks. This state of the soul is inferior and in this condition the jeev is far from reality. In the dreaming state of the soul, the physical body of the spirit sleeps but the subtle body remains awake. At this stage the soul is drawn through the work area and heedfulness of soul is afferent rather than being efferent. The only difference is that the desires of the physical body that are not fulfilled in the world, gets completed in dreams through subtle body. The subtle body becomes strong that means becomes more active when the outer body sleeps.
When the jeev is in extremely deep sleep then the external world or internal thoughts remains unnoticed to him which is the state of dreamless sleep. Dreams do not come often in this state. The senses and the mind become calm in this state. At this stage, deep connection of soul is established with the divine consciousness. Relationship of soul from body and mind breaks for a few moments and soul appears in its true form. Upon waking from this state, the person experiences extreme happiness after waking from sleep.
Turlya (Fourth) state: It is called as Trance State. In this, soul is completely separated from the body and the mind, i.e. only the entity of soul remains. In this phase, there is attainment of ultimate bliss. Turiya state is waking state. The difference between sleep and turlya state is that in sleep we are not able to anticipate that we have reached near the soul but the journey undertaken to reach turlya state is remembered.
This is the stage where the subconscious mind receives information with the help of soul. The conscious mind is not capable of accessing the subconscious mind and brings the stored information in it onto the surface. Upon reaching this state, solution to the complex problems is easily obtained in the light of the soul and prognosis of things takes place in its real form. To understand the actual form of the signals received by the soul requires practice/ sadhna. Without practice, one cannot remain awake while going through these stages. Without awareness, the guideline of the soul is forgotten.
Whatever information subconscious mind gives, final decision is taken by the conscious mind only. The tendency of subconscious and conscious mind is that they do not want to follow the directions given by the spirit. It is not necessary that soul accepts whatever mind wishes. But if the mind decides to do that task even though it is not acceptable then both soul and body are tied up. The task in which there is no consent of soul, more of problems need to be encountered while doing that task. If there is an acceptance of the soul, that work is innately endowed.
At times the conscious mind is not able to receive information from the subconscious mind. The reason behind this is that there is deficiency in the process based on which the information is brought. The power of mind is massive on account of its connection with the soul but it is required to organize the power of mind. Subconscious mind has immense idea power to make us free from bondages but to convert the idea into action conscious mind is required. Only conscious mind has the connection with the subconscious mind. That is why the conscious mind is required for practical use of the energy of subconscious mind. Positive thoughts by the conscious mind give right direction to the energy of subconscious mind. In the same way negative thoughts obstruct the flow of energy. That is why it becomes mandatory for seekers of spirituality to maintain the purity of any thoughts at any cost.
METHODS TO CONTROL MIND
Balance in the body, mind and spirit only can make a balanced and happy life. The mind can be controlled only by understanding mind. Whatever that is materialistic or that can be felt by the senses has a certain magnitude. Similarly, there is a determined tendency and a work area of the mind. That frame of mind is also fixed. The mind is never still, it implies that either it is doing analysis of the events of the past or busy in future hypothesis. When a human being starts seeing the present in the absolute sense, loss of his energy is stopped further. The desires can be handled only through wisdom. As and when the mind becomes free from negative cultures, it is much less affected by emotions and situations. The person who is aware of the nature can transform the mind by identifying nature and limitations of mind.
Mind always needs a base to be able to stay on anything. On that basis only mind intakes energy and ascertain us with the feeling of happiness and sorrow. If the basis of mind is mundane objects then it becomes a cause of sorrow but if God becomes that basis then there exists feeling of pleasure. Mind cannot last much longer on anything. It always keeps on changing. If it does not stay on any idea, there is loss of mental energy due to its continuous dynamic condition. Because of this reason, the source of the idea and the study of its result are not possible. The intensity with which the mind combines itself with any object or idea, a bond is formed according to that proportion only. When the mind is still, capability to understand the profundity of any idea or thought is attained due to which it is possible to predict the genesis of the idea along with its nature and result. When the knowledge of the outcome of the idea is known beforehand only, it is possible to change the nature of the deed and a bond is not built.
For convergence of human being and purification of the negative imprints/tendencies, there is requirement of detention or not to perform task based on the instincts and by way of which the loss of the energy can also be controlled. Mind is activated through the percept of things related to five senses and impulse. This is the reason that a human being requires inhibition to control mind. There are eight limbs for moderating the mind - Yama, Rules, Asanas, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana etc. On account of having extremely strong values, spontaneous change of mind is not possible. For this long time practice is required. As a result of constant practice, pure and positive energy is created in the conscious mind. Based on this energy only, the negative values lying hidden in the subconscious mind are discovered and purified. This brings change in the nature. Change in the nature brings purity further in deeds. Pure deeds leads to prudence and mortification, which are the basis of attaining self-enlightenment.
FATE REVERSAL BY MIND
There are two sides of fate - Static and Variable. The static side is permanent and irreversible. For example, mother, father, family, culture, land and physical organisation including such other activity sides fall under static trend. Variable component is nature and trend. This can be changed by study, practice and will power.
By following religious acts in a disciplined way, the quality of ideas can be altered. This change further alters the nature of the task due to which there can be control over the number of ideas. Improvement in the quality and number of thoughts leads to stability of mind. In this case, when the knowledge obtained by the Vedas and Upanishads is imbibed, mind attains the power of being afferent / introvert.
Astrology delineates positive and negative values, trends, desires and nature with the help of planets. At the same time when the center of the problems is determined, by the specific actions or measures, the positive energy displaced negative energy. On continuously following the measures, the positive energy gets strong and once the conscious mind is purified, it enters into the subconscious mind where the root cause of the problem exists. With the roots deeper, it takes more time for its uprooting. Continuous specific remedies begin to impair the negative trend and become capable enough to retain mind, knowledge, wisdom and divine qualities of quietness. When this ability is developed by chanting mantras, meditation and unselfish service and other such deeds then there develops tendency in the mind of being afferent / introvert. When mind becomes introvert then the true nature of self knowledge is revealed. Based on this strength, the knowledge rises above the body and mind and settles in the soul because when the act is done with awareness on the basis of knowledge; it ends the ego implantation towards the action. Selfless deeds cannot create new does not create new earthly fruit or bond, consequently the energy of selfless deeds helps to meet GOD by providing upward momentum to the mind.
