The Mysterious Power of the Mind

We will now explore Sage Vashista's teachings about the mysteries of the mind to Lord Rama. Sage Vashista tells him about the power of the mind (chit shakti) in the following shloka:

"There does exist, O Rama, the power or energy of Infinite Consciousness which is in motion all the time: that alone is the reality of all inevitable futuristic events, for it penetrates all the epochs in time. It is by that power that the nature of every object in the universe is ordained. That power (cit shakti) is also known as Mahasattaa (the great existence), Mahacitti (the great intelligence), Mahashakti (the great power), Mahadristi (the great vision), Mahakriya (the great doer or doing), Mahodbhava (the great becoming), Mahaspandana (the great vibration). It is this power that that endows everything with its characteristic quality. But this power is not different from or independent of the Absolute Brahman.": Sage Vashista.

Later he explains to Rama:

"The cosmic mind manifested itself in the absolute Brahman. At that very instant diverse beings and theory of behaviour were born, and the embodied beings came to be regarded as jiva."

There is no division between mind and action. Before it is projected as action, it arises in the mind, with the mind itself as "body". Hence action is nothing but movement of energy in consciousness, and inevitably bears its own fruit.

Mind is only perception: and perception is movement in consciousness. The expression of this movement is action, and fruition follows this. Whatever the mind thinks of, the organs of action strive to materialize. Hence again mind is action. When mind ceases to be there is no action. This applies to a liberated sage.

It is one and the same mind that assumes various forms and is called by various names on account of its difference in functions such as intellect, egotism…etc.

However mind, intellect, egotism, individualized consciousness, individual soul, action, fancy, birth and death, latent tendencies, knowledge, effort, memory, the sense, nature, Maya or illusion, activity and such other words are but words without corresponding reality. The sole reality is the infinite consciousness, in which these concepts are conceived to exist. All these concepts have arisen when, by accidental coincidence (the crow dislodging the coconut), the infinite consciousness in a moment of self forgetfulness viewed itself as the object of perception. When thus veiled by nescience the same consciousness views diversity in an agitated state and identifies objects as such, it is known as mind or individual consciousness or individual soul. That itself when it is firmly established in the conviction of a certain perception is known as intellect (characteristic of intellect is determination) or intelligence. When it ignorantly or foolishly identifies itself as an existent separate individual, it is known as egotism. Even egotism like intellect is inert as it is produced by the individual soul. The mind or individual soul is indeed space of Consciousness. It is existing in the heart with the nature of vital air (prana). It is very delicate and lives by (or depends for its existence on) someone different within. When it abandons consistent enquiry, allowing itself to play with countless thoughts coming and going it is known as individualized Consciousness. The individual soul lives by the ancient natural state of Consciousness in the form of the Self. But the individual soul lives only with the characteristic of Consciousness having the delusion of objectivity (notion).

• Pure movement in consciousness is karma without an independent doer.
• When that movement pursues the fruition of such action it is known simply as karma(action).
• When the jiva in its movement entertains the notion "I have seen this before" in relation to something seen or unseen, it is known as memory.
• When the effects of past enjoyments continue to remain in the field of consciousness, though the effects themselves are unseen, it is known as latent tendency, vasana or potentiality.
• When it is conscious of the truth that the vision of division is the product of ignorance, it is known as knowledge.
• On the other hand, when it moves in the wrong direction towards greater self forgetfulness and deeper involvement in false fancies, it is known as impurity.
• When it entertains the indweller with sensations, it is known as senses (indriya).
• When it remains unmanifest in the cosmic being, it is known as nature (prakriti)
• When it creates confusion between reality and appearance, it is known as Maya (illusion)When it dissolves in the infinite there is liberation.When it thinks "I am bound" there is bondage: when it thinks "I am free" there is freedom.