The Mind is very mysterious. Actually we do not know what this Mind is. "It is, it is not!" This is the Vedic doctrine. We are lost for a moment and we do not know where we are since the Mind is absent. We cannot understand the ways of Mind, its attitude, behavior, and its waywardness puts us in awkward situation. Our entire life is governed by this mysterious entity called Mind (manas). The more we try to find out, grasp it, the more it slips off from our grip. But, there are yogi, attained persons who control the Mind! Either the Mind controls us or we should control it? It is extremely difficult to know what it is, let alone, control it!
What is this Mind, Where is it and where does it come from? There scriptural Texts that answer these questions. According to the Vishnu Purana, the Mind is the manifest aspect of Sri Hari. It is the Sp[ace, Akasha. It is also known as the core of the objects, soul, Atman. This is the first Element that gives rise to, accommodate and support the other Elements (bhutadi gana) such as Vayu, Agni, Aps (jal), and Prithvi (pancha bhutadi). In scientific parlor, it is the same as Space that accommodate and allows movement of gaseous, liquid and solid materials. But, where is the 'Mind' here? Mind is the Akasha, Space. Everything rises in the Mind, lives and dies in the Mind! Thus, the world is the Mind and the Mind is created by the Mind. The elemental, objective, phenomenal, transient world is created and sustained and finally dissolved in the Mind. Mind is also a bhava, bhavana, or thinking! As we think so it happens- yad bahavam tad bhavati |
Now the origin of Mind (manas) is traced to Purusha and Prakruti. 'Purusha' is the 'efficient cause', adhishthana karana, and the prakruti (sva bhava) is the 'Evolutionary' or 'Material Cause'. Kala (Time) is the catalyst, principle of inner activity, and the spiritual activity of God as the transcendent and immanent agent. The causal 'trinity' finds its fundamental active principle in this! In a way, it is the 'kriya shakti' of the 'ichha' of the Lord. In the beginning there exists only 'Purusha'. The 'prakruti' or 'svabhava' is the inherent quality of the Purusha. It is like the Sun and its light, or Fire and its heat.
Now, the process of evolution begins with the 'mahat'. it is known by different names, such as, vidya, gauh, yavani, brahmi, vadhu vriddhi, mati,madhu, akhyati,Ishvara, and prajnya. Three qualities exist such as tamas, rajas, and sattva and these determine the category of mahat- such as kala(Time), buddhi (Intellect), prana (Life Force). The sattva of mahat emanates as virtue, ('dharma'), knowledge (jnyan), disinclination (vairagya),and allmental powers (aishvarya). The tamas aspect create the opposite of all these!
The manus descend into Mahat.and from mahat there spring out Indriya (the Senses) by which the objects are perceived as existence or non-existence. Another aspect that emerges from mahat is ahankara (Ego) through the influence of the spiritual energy of God. Ahankara is also called as abhimana, prajapati, abhimanta, and bodha. Ahankara is known according to its tamas, rajas or sattva as vaikarika, taijas, and bhutadi.
The Ego, Ahankara, manifests itself as will, anger, greed, manas (Mind) and trisha (desire). At this stage, the manus become the thinking entity called man. Then all the tanmatras create their respective bhutadi. Sound emanates from Akasha, touch from Vayu. form from Agni, rasa from Aps and gandha from prithvi. The respective sense organs come as if to experience the tanmatras! All these are said to be the spiritual creative desire of God.
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