Role of intellect

[Guest guest]

Gummuluru Murthy <gmurthy

>The reason I put that sentence is

>because I am aware of the danger that the intellect can satisfy itself

>(wrongly) into a lower path (like what Charles is referring to as

>bestiality).

 

If I understand the mechanics, the intellect for the most part knows what

is right and what is wrong. Like even the thief knows that stealing is

bad since he does not want his stolen property to be stolen by others.

Thus he wants everyone else to respect "thou shall not steal" when it comes

to his property. The divergence comes from the mind and is due to the

pressure of vaasanas. Intellect by itself does not settle into wrong path

- it is the mind because of attachments (likes and dislikes) make the whole

personality to pull down to lower path - the Katha statement about the

dheeraas is by the dhee or the intellect that dominates - that happens when

the mind become subservient to intellect - that the integration is brought

in a dheera purusha by yoga which integrates the two equipments -- The

divergence between the mind and intellect as Swami Chinmayanandaji says is

the 'sin". When vaasanaas get nullified the integration is accomplished.

Hence, even when momentarily the mind dominates and one does what one

feels like doing; after preyas part is over, and one is free from the

impulse desire, the intellect that has been overtake, now comes back and

starts pricking "why did you do it, even though I told you it is wrong" -

this is what you refer to as conscious that pricks. One goes through the

hell - provided one has the intellect that can prick. One is punished by

the sin rather for the sin.

 

For an animal (person with animal behavior included) the intellect has not

developed to the degree and hence he/it behaves like an animal with no

conscious that can prick. But as the evolution takes place, intellect

grows through learning from ones own experiences - when someone hurts him -

he start learning that hurting is wrong - same with respect to all values.

Then one begins to act like a human - the intellect, the choices for the

intellect, and the mind that is willing or not willing to go along with the

intellectual choice - all comes into picture. One goes up or down depends

on what the path - path of preyas or shreyas that one chooses as an

individual. Even if one makes wrong choice, when the intellect pricks and

if he begins to make better choice next time because of that pricking then

he is back on the track. Hence there is a continuous evaluation of ones

motivations and actions by the intellect. Hence reevaluation of choices

one makes . - As long as those choices are not predestined then the

free-will is operating -in whatever form you choose to describe that

operation in your model - these are only differences in semantics rather

than any difference in the essential nature.

 

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

>But again, let me recall Lord Yama's saying to Nachiketa in Katha

>upanishad. The good and the pleasant (shreyah and preyah) approach

>a mumukshu. The dheera chooses the good and not the pleasant.

>

>

>

>Regards

>Gummuluru Murthy

>------

 

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623