Mind & its Mysteries

I thought there should be post on the mind for the mind chakra! In Vedanta, the discriminatory faculty, according to swami, can reflect 90% of the Atma and the mind can expand from the concrete mind to the supermind to the higher mind to the illumined mind to the overmind. This cosmic level of overmind is called the Mahat in the Sankhya philosophy, and represents Eshwara's mind reflected in the Jiva's (individual) through the koshas (Vijayamaya) and is called the Buddhi - intellect. Swami explains that this Mahat/Buddhi principle is called the Swan of Discrimination and the parts of the bird make up characteristics needed for it.

SANKHYA PHILOSOPHY

Mahat at Cosmic = Buddhi at Individual

Parts of the Mahat Swan of Discrimination
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......................HEAD of Faith..........................

Truth ..............WINGS........... Unity Thought, Deed & Word

......................TAIL = Yoga or Control.............
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These qualities or "limbs of the Swan" seem to have more to do with the necessary character prerequisite for the satwic qualities to sensitize the intelligence. However, as far as the tail for control, it seems that better than controlling the mind is what Swami and the advaita philosophy propounds: ie. rather to understand the mysteries of the mind and then there is the realisation that there is no such thing as the mind...... just thoughts as not separate from the One Self.

The world is just a canvas to the imagination (thoughts) and what Ganapati Muni (Ramana Gita) and Shankacharya expound about the mind and world might shed some light:

Ramana Gita

The world is the mind = Moon
Self is the Heart = Sun

What Adi Shankarcharya says:

The world (mind) is not real
Brahma (Self) is real
Brahma (Self) is the world (mind)

Anyway, I wanted to recommend Swami's own words from his discourses in the book "The MIND And Its Mysteries" (Prashanti Publications). I have copied down the chapter titles and the usual poems he usually sings before each of the 9 discourses (chapters) he gave. It is a recommended read and not too long either! The poems do not completely reflect the titles of the chapters but I think the titles speak for themselves.

THE MIND & ITS MYSTERIES

Chapter 1: Self-Confidence - The First Step in Spiritual Sadhana

"The Essence of all the Vedantic texts I am revealing this in one sentence: The Atmic consciousness pervading all the living beings and you is one and the same. Constantly remember this Truth"

Chapter 2: The Mind Has No Form

"By doing a bad deed, good result cannot be achieved;
By doing a good deed, one will not encounter harm;
Having planted a lime sapling, Can one reap a mango fruit?
Having planted a mango sapling, Can one reap a lime fruit"

Chapter 3: Apeksha (fascination for worldly objects) Bind And Upeksha (disinteredness) Liberates A Person

"One may be a scholar well versed in all scriptures, Epics and Vedantha;
One may be an Emperor reveling in lovely palaces with deep attachment;
One may be a conqueror of the world having vanquished his enemies in the battlefield
One may be an unfortunate servant of the goddess of poverty, undergoing great suffering due to her "merciful look"
If one is lacking in devotion, he is useless for anything.
A servant who is an embodiment of devotion is holier than a great Emperor lacking in devotion.
What more can I can explain Oh! Men of noble qualities?"

Chapter 4: Cultivate Good Thoughts, Feelings & Desires

"Unless one gets rid of sloth and slumber
One cannot find truth;
Unless one is free from passionate activity
One cannot attain devotion;
It is only through devotion;
This is the truth being revealed"

Chapter 5: Reduce Your Desires To Achieve Manonasanam

"One may be able to memorise all the Vedas and Vedic Sciences;
One may be able to compose beautiful Poetry and Prose;
If he has no purity of consciousness, he will spoil himself.
What more can I explain?

Chapter 6: Happiness & Sorrow Are The Making Of One's Own Mind

"One who has succumbed to his inner enemies
How can he conquer the external enemy?
One who has realised the Thathwa is verily the sanctified one
This is teh truth here revealed"

Chapter 7: Sathwic Food & Sathsanga Will Help Control The Mind

"The white ants would manifest bit by bit in the beginning,
Soon they will eat away the whole log;
The evil qualities appear to be insignificant in the beginning,
Soon they will destroy even a person of sound character"

Chapter 8: The Purpose Of Religion Is To Regulate The Mind

"He, who is worshipped as Allah by the Muslims;
Jehovah by the Christians;
The Lotus-eyed Vishnu by the Vaishnavaites;
Sambhu by the Saivaites and
Who confers long life, health, wealth and prosperity on one and all;
That Supreme Self is One and Only One"

Chapter 9: Sublimate Your Intellect And Develop The Power Of Discrimination

"For the miser who cannot enjoy the comforts of life,
Of what use are the riches?
He is like a dog that can only lick the water,
Eventhough a lot of water flows in the river.
He can never be contented and happy"

Excerpt from book..... "Mind alone is the cause for either bondage or liberation. We have been making an effort for the last seven days to understand the nature of the mind and its mysteries. In fact, this is our foremost duty. When once we are able to unravel the mysteries of the mind, that itself is Moksha (liberation)."


Another good book by swami is His "Summer Showers 1990" where he spoke to the students on the components of the mind. Also with Prashanti Publications