MIND
its capacities and functions Part I
The mind is fed by the impressions that perceives. The
impressions that we constantly receive through senses are the food of the mind.
The qualities of the impressions we
take in determine the quality of the mind. Sattvic impressions and actions create a sattvic
mind and rajotamasic impressions and actions create a rajotamasic mind. The
former is a mind luminous, sharp, clear, serene, content, peaceful, happy and
the later distracted, passionate, discontent, hyperactive, dominative,
desirous, egoistic, greedy, full of pride, (when predominates the rajas guna),
and lethargic, dull, dark, obstinate,
lazy, suicidal, (when predominates tamas).
The mind processes the impressions that receives by the senses,
modifies them and then express them in its own way.
The creativity of mind works in relation with the impressions
we take in.
The mind attracts situations
according to its contents which are the result of the impressions that have been stored in the
mind.
The mind perceives and interprets the
external things according to its contents and its conditioning that is the result of the
previous experiences.
The mind creates an external reality
according to its contents.
Τhe mind is a transmitter and receiver; interacts with the minds of others as well as with
the cosmic mind. It is in tune with the minds that vibrate in a similar
frequency.
The mind of everyone influences the
minds of other humans
as well as those of the animals and plants. Our mind is also influenced by the
mind of others. Naturally the stronger
mind has a greater impact on the weaker one.
The mind is the creator of our
character. The mind
through the chain of attraction-desire-action-habit creates our character and
our destiny.
Mind only is subject to bondage and
freedom. Our
suffering and bondage or our happiness and freedom are depended exclusively on
mind´s state. A pure sattvic mind is the key for success in life and spiritual
realizations. Our true Self is always free.
The
four aspects of mind and the its various functions:
The four aspects of the mind is 1. Chitta,(mamory, general field of mental
consciousness) 2. Buddhi (intelligence-intellect),
3. Manas, (the external mind; the
thinking-emotional-sensory-motor mind), 4. Ego
or ´Iness (the center of our illusory identity, which make us identify with
body nd personality).
Although mind has different levels of function and
certain qualities and functions belong to one of its aspects the mind functions as a whole.
More about the capacities and the
functions of the mind:
1.
The mind has perceptions, thoughts,
feelings, emotions, moods.
2.
Mind can have correct or incorrect
ability to perceive, Judge, reason, understand and discriminate.
3.
Mind functions in dual mode. It moves
between Likes-dislikes, attraction-repulsion, love-hatred, happiness-grief,
exhilaration-depression, enthusiasm-disappointment, etc.
4.
Lust and desire are the nucleus of the
egoic mind.
5.
The mind can be passionate or
dispassionate, attached or dettached.
6.
Mind can be pure, dull, confused or can
be pure, clear, sharp, and luminous.
7.
Mind likes the pleasure, pleasant sensations
and situations, comforts, dislikes the pain, discomfort and the unpleasant
situations.
8.
The rajasic sensual mind wants variety,
more, better experiences of pleasure and it is attached to them.
9.
The tamasic sensual mind seeks pleasure
in perversions and in brutal instincts.
10. The mind wants to avoid everything that makes it experience
pain and is attracted to what gives it pleasure.
11. The mind can be concentrated or distracted. When mind is
interested about the object on which contemplates, or experiences pleasure then
the mind is easily concentrated.
12. The mind can be attentive or inattentive. Attention is
mostly manipulated by the impulses of desire and the emotions.
13. The mind can do only one thing every time.
14. The mind most of the time is unsteady; it moves like a
monkey from one thing to another
15. The mind is habitual, has habitual, reactive, automatic
responses; Creates habits at all levels (Mental, emotional, bodily movements
and functions, and energetic). What we call patterns of thoughts and emotions
are emotional and mental habits.
16. The mind is creative. Its creativity is related with its
contents.
17. The mind becomes easily attached and addictive.
18. Imitates
19. Perceives
20. Thinks
21. Feels
22. Enjoys
23. Identifies
24. Associates
25. Imagines
26. projects
27. The mind coordinates, the movements of the body and the
senses.
28. The mind associates; makes associations and links between
thoughts-sense perceptions–emotions-vital formations and experiences.
29. The mind projects its own contents, imaginations, feelings,
opinions onto things, situations and persons.
30. The mind assumes the form of the object that contemplates
31. The mind absorbs the qualities of the thing that is in tune
or in touch.
32. The mind functions like a clock. The mind can repeat better
the same things if it does them at the same place and hour.
33. The mind
memorize-thoughts-emotions-vibrations etc. (memory
is of the chitta which functions together with manas)
34. The mind memorize its
reactions on external circumstances and repeats them mechanically.
35. The mind recreates what has stored in the subconscious
consciously or mechanically.
36. The mind modifies its contents and creates new experiences.
37. The mind is repetitive: wants to repeat the same experiences
that give it pleasure. Does not want to lose its pleasure and its pains also.
38. The mind due to egoistic tendencies does improper or excessive
use of senses, body, mind and vital energy. Due to this the pleasures can turn
in suffering and diseases.
39. The mind learns through repetition according the
quality-quantity of the experience.
40. The mind resists and fears changes. Mind doesn’t abandon
easily its habits- objects of pleasures, its pains, ideas, believes etc.
41. The mind has the capacity to make decisions, to reason, to
understand, to discern, to contemplate, to reflect. (Buddhi aspect)
42. The mind has the power of Will.
43. The mind has curiosity
A greater analysis about the nature of Mind and the constitution of a Human Being will be posted later
A greater analysis about the nature of Mind and the constitution of a Human Being will be posted later