The Mind and the Senses

    Some pundits said, "They are six. Some said, "They are eight, and some others said, these are nine, ten, eleven, and so on!" Thus, the arguments went on in order to establish the true nature of the jiva. First, the six major constituents other than the Five major elements and their tanmatras such as the space, air, fire, water and soil or food, and their qualities such as sound, touch, form, taste and smell, the Mind, and the Senses. The Senses are, again, five of knowledge (jnyan) and five of action (karma). The Mind and the five jnyan indriyas are six. These control our life and activities for most of our lifetime! Hence these are six. If buddhi and ahankar are added, these become eight. To these may be added the five karmaindriayas. Together, these thirteen are very important elements that play havoc in our life! Why should one think that they play havoc? The answer is here in the following;

   The five jnayn indria (senses)do not have their own independent existence unless they are driven by the Mind and its desires. Desires are created by the mind. The Mind is a thermodynamic reactor producing enormous energy and many pundits refer to mind (manas) as the soul (Atman)! The Mind (manas) is the driving force! The senses go on errandas per the desire of the mind. No desire, no mind and no action of the senses. Evn if one sees he/she does not see if there is no application of the mind! The eyes see only of the mind shows interest in the object focused on by the mind. So also, the other organs like the ear, nose, tongue, and the skin, Once the senses do their assigned job, the experience is stored as memory in the brain! This memory is the most dangerous thing that make or mar our lives! Even if the mind and the senses are not actively engaged, the memory plays the trick and induces the jiva to karma and thereby bring prarabhda in its wake!

   Now, the objects that interest the jive are not just of the desires, but also of the dreams, aspirations, ideas, images and what not? These kill the jiva while actually breathing and living! The phenomenal objective world is in fact created by the Mind and its buddhi and ahankar! Thus, there is no end to the struggling jiva! The jiva goes madly after worldly aspirations, attainments of sense objects that are millions! There is no end to dreams and desires. Nothing will bring satisfaction, joy and peace to the jiva. There are a hundred thousand attractions to each of the sense organs and these include the interests of the mind dwelling on people and objects, far and wide! The mind moves so swift that it can go beyond the universe in a fraction of  a sec. There is no limit to its interests and nothing satisfies its interests! Thus, the jiva running after the whims and fancies of the Mind is also doomed.

   The best solution by the Gita is to master the whimsical mind through chants of the name of the Lord, hari nama smarane!