The concept of Mind in the Major Upanishads
by Gisha K. Narayanan | 2018 | 35,220 words
This page relates 鈥楾he Psychological aspects in the Brihadaranyakopanishad鈥� of the study on the concept of Mind as found in the Major Upanishads: the philosophical backbone of the four Vedas. This study explores the various characteristics and psychological aspects of the mind (described by the Seers of ancient India thousands of years ago) including awareness (samjna), understanding (vijnana) and knowledge (prajnana).
Go directly to: Footnotes.
8. The Psychological aspects in the B峁沨ad膩ra峁噛akopani峁d
鲍辫补苍颈峁诲颈肠 philosophy declares that the Ultimate Reality is Brahman. It is unchangeable, undifferentiated and everlasting reality. This Universe is the Ultimate Reality, Brahman. From it all things originate, sustain and dissolve. 叠峁沨补诲腻谤补峁噛补办补-耻辫补苍颈峁诲 suggests the reality of the real and the source of all things.
It is the truth consciousness and infinity:
satyasya satyamiti, 辫谤腻峁嚹� vai 蝉补迟测补峁�, te峁Ｄ乵e峁 satyam || [1]
This Brahman is pure according to this 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 and preaches to Brahman that declares self is the absolute.[2]
Followed by this statement this 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 again says:鈥�"I am Brahman.鈥�
brahma v膩 idamagra 膩s墨ttad膩tm膩namev膩veta! aha峁� brahm膩sm墨ti || [3]
This 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 refers to the travel of our imagination to beyond space, time, and mysteries of the universe etc. There is no end to it. Again we look or imagine something further than that. All the 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲s are teach us the Brahmavidya, that is 鈥榮omething鈥� is not beyond, but it is the nearest to the near in our own heart. All 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 impart this idea in different ways. Consciousness and non-consciousness are the aspects of Brahman. A number of references have been made regarding the soul and its relation with body and soul. They are closely associated. Further soul is connected with brain and nervous system. The Yoga mentions 蝉耻峁尘苍腻 苍腻诲颈 which goes from the heart to skull. It is noted in this 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 that man sees and hears with the help of mind. In the words of Dr.S. Radhakrishnan 鈥渋t passes upward from the heart, through the mid region of the throat up to the skull where the roots of the hair lie apart鈥�.[4] All the functions of a 辫耻谤耻峁 are done with the help of mind. Desire, resolution, doubt, regard etc are mental activities. Mind is the central organ of consciousness. Without mind all sense organs are dysfunctional. So it is called in this 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 -parodeva岣モ��. Without mind, the senses are inactive or useless.[5] This idea is also mentioned in the 笔谤补艣苍补-耻辫补苍颈峁诲 So the mind is the chief of other organs.
According to B峁沨ad膩ra峁噛aka, mind has the nature of light. The heart of the 辫耻谤耻峁 is full of mind, lustre and subtle objects. Heart is like a grain of rice or a grain of barley[6]. Atman exists in heart -it says -鈥渁ntah峁泆daya岣モ��. It is the ruler, lord, governor and so on. The Atman is Brahman, it alone becomes 惫颈箩帽腻苍补尘补测补, manomaya, 辫谤腻峁嘺尘补测补, cak峁rmaya etc.
It is full of knowledge; mind and 辫谤腻峁嘺 all:
sa v膩 ayam膩tm膩 brahma vij帽膩namayo 尘补苍辞尘补测补岣� 辫谤腻峁嘺尘补测补艣cak峁rmaya岣� 艣rotramaya岣� p峁泃hv墨maya岣� 膩pomay膩 v膩yumaya 膩k膩艣amayastejomaya岣�[7]
Atman is the dominant aspect of mind, 辫谤腻峁嘺 and speech. For the ideas to develop, sense organs require its aid.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
叠峁沨补诲腻谤补峁噛补办补-耻辫补苍颈峁诲-2.3.6
[2]:
Ibid -4.4.12
[3]:
Ibid-1.4.10
[4]:
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, The Principle Upanishads, P-534
[5]:
叠峁沨补诲腻谤补峁噛补办补-耻辫补苍颈峁诲-1.5.3
[6]:
Ibid -5.6.1
[7]:
Ibid-4.4.5