How does the mind function?

[Guest guest]

namaste.

 

As I was reflecting further on Shri Shankara's brahmasutrAbhAshhya (BSB)

over the past week, a statement in Vireswarananda's commentary on Shri

Shankara's work caught the attention. Discussing BSB 1.1.2,

Vireswarananda says in part and I quote:

 

".... The prime object of this Sutra (1.1.2 janmAdyasya yatah), therefore,

is not to establish Brahman through inference but to discuss scriptural

passages which declare that Brahman is the First Cause (texts like Taitt

U. 3.1). Once the scriptures have declared Brahman to be the First Cause,

reasoning may be taken advantage of in so far as they do not contradict

the scriptures, but rather supplement them, in ascertaining the sense of

the Vedanta texts. Such reasoning must be corroborative of the truth

inculcated. [From here on my emphasis (GM) but still Vireswarananda's writing].

*This kind of reasoning include hearing of the texts (Sravana), thinking

about their meaning (Manana), and meditation on them (NididhyAsana). This

leads to intuition. By intuition is meant that mental modification (vr^tti)

of the mind (Chitta) which destroys our ignorance about Brahman. When the

ignorance is destroyed by this mental modification in the form of Brahman

(BrahmAkAravr^tti), Brahman, which is self-luminous, reveals Itself.

[Here is my further emphasis (GM) but still Vireswarananda's writing]

**In ordinary perception, when we cognize an object, the mind (Chitta)

takes the form of the external object, which destroys the ignorance

about it, and consciousness reflected in this modification of the mind

manifests the object.** In the case of Brahman, however, the mental

modification destroys the ignorance, but Brahman, which is consciousness

pure and simple, manifests Itself, being self-luminous.*...."

 

Now, as I understand the above passage, which is obviously by Shri

Shankara (although I do not have the original bhAshhya):

 

Intuition is mental modification. Brahman, being self-luminous,

manifests Itself on destoyal of ignorance.

 

The mind, in cognizing an object (any object, lower knowledge),

takes the shape and form and size of the external object, and the

ignorance about that object is destroyed.

 

Now then, for the destruction of ignorance about an elephant, the

mind would take the shape of an elephant and ignorance about that

elephant is destroyed. This is true of any object and that is the

way the mind functions.

 

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The above can be used in showing that the wake-up and dream state are

not different at all.

 

It says that the mind takes the shape of the object for the ignorance

about that object to be removed. If it is an elephant, the mind takes

the shape (and size) of the elephant. Obviously, mind must be external

to the human body for the mind to be able to take this shape.

 

Now, the dream state is accepted to be an illusion because partly the

whole dream jagat created by the dreamer cannot be fitted in in the

six-foot space the body occupies. Can we not use exactly the same

argument to deny reality for the wake-up state, taking that the mind

has to take up the shape of the object however big or small it is.

That is, what we call mind is external to the body. We can come to this

conclusion (that the whole jagat created by the mind is illusory) even

while we are in the wake-up state.

 

As usual, I am most grateful for any comments and clarifications.

 

Regards

Gummuluru Murthy

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