MIND : ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL : 5.
MIND IN SANKHYA PHILOSOPHY :
In Sankhya philosophy, Mahat is the term used to denote “cosmic mind” or “universal mind.”
It is the first principle that is derived from Avyakta.
It is the first principle that is manifested out of the unmanifested Avyakta.
The wheel of the bullock-cart rests on the spokes.
The spokes rest on the nave.
Even so, the mind rests on Prakriti and Prakriti rests on Brahman.
From Mahat comes Ahankara.
From Sattvic Ahankara comes mind; from Rajasic Ahankara comes Prana; from Tamasic Ahankara, Tanmatras; from Tanmatras, gross elements; from gross elements, the gross universe. Mind is no other than Ahankara, the idea of ‘I’.
It is, indeed, difficult to eschew this idea of ‘I’. Mind always attaches itself to something objective (Sthula).
It cannot stand by itself.
It is only this mind that asserts itself as ‘I’ in this body.
The idea of ‘I’ is the seed of the tree of mind.
The sprout which first springs up from this seed of Ahankara is Buddhi.
From this sprout, the ramifying branches called Sankalpas have their origin.
Swami Sivananda
To be continued ...
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