Sri Yukteswar explains that when the creation of the atom (which is the basis of this material creation) began we were influenced by maya and began to express avidya or ignorance in our actions. Yet under the influence of a calm sate of mind (chitta) we spiritualize our minds and express Buddhi or discriminative intelligence as opposed to Manas: the mind manifesting in the repulsion from spirit and centering its interests in the enjoyment of the senses.
Yet by the ability to compare are dreams as conceptions of ideas the similarity between them and the gross ideas of the wakeful state leads one to conclude that this external world is not what it appears to be. Further reflection leads one to understand that the five senses have fooled us and this reality that we perceive in the so called waking state is also a dream.
Namaste2All was percolating when he described the manas mind. It is often hard to get a grasp on ego but this helps:
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contemplative commentary - sharing only... pointing, alluding to "something" that each alone shall find... words always fall short...
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Framework of commentary using Vedic metaphysical vocabulary...
The (manas) congitive mind (monkey mind), enjoys (bhokti / bhogha) variety. It is healthy for devotee to provide manas an increasing framework of thoughts, concepts, inspirations that allude and point to the singular essenses. Then as the nature of God is directly experienced, we (that which remains) may gently move the manas mind, up / deeper... and then manas has a variety of (thought pattern) frameworks from which to relate to the divine experience... without this expansion of mind... the manas mind will be as a little hesitant, and questioning child... noisy and of tantrum... demanding explanations... trying to put things in order and such... it is important to consider that manas is NOT what brings clarity or the goal... rather devotee / yogi expands "mind" while viewing that manas (cognitive, monkey-mind) is NOT that which "remains"... true understanding is beyond our normal conventions of thought... it (manas) is like the mud suspended in the shaken jar of murky water... we must find methods to get the jar to still, to allow the manas mud to settle, such that the water is clear, and we may peer into and through it... manas is state of "mind" that is aligned with Ego (ahamkara / the idea of seperate existence).
cultivation of (buddhi) divine intelligence (spiritualized calm state of mind) relieves the pressure / tension caused by the incessant chatter of manas (monkey mind). it (buddhi) calms and cools the manas mind, as a benevolent caretaker, and guardian, ruler over manas. buddhi is state of "mind" that is aligned with Chitta (spiritualized "atom" / heart) -- Note: atom in this context is not meaning atomic particle... it is more akin a metaphysical term, of the "essense stuff" of creation - see the Four Ideas - Time, Space, Atom, Word).
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cautionary consideration -- This discussion of "mind" is but one vien of the necessary "expansion" that must occur to make our cup like Christ / Cosmic Consciousness (then God may flow and pour into our vessel...) (There was a man who had great thirst, and wanted to drink the whole lake. Yet after three glasses he was full. We must expand our body and mind to be able to accept God.) God is expressed in both (chit) Force and (ananda) Feeling -- even concept of buddhi must interweave among other divine aspects... for any true aspect nature is one in the same, never standing alone / never in vacuum... we do not reach understanding of a mosiaq by staring at one spot... yet at times we must examine with detail... then relax and just let it flow...
Albert Einstein (paraphrased), "problems may not be resolved at the same level of consciousness from which they arose". Likewise, we as devotee / yogi are simply expanding... above is expounded / related via words a conception of a path to expanding consciousness... above are just words... sublime action is reality...
Krishna to Arjuna (parphrased)... Arjuna get away from the oscillations of stimulus and reaction... sit as a prince of peace on the throne / chariot of intuition...
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in divine love we express... victory to spirit, victory to nature, dancing together... humbled we are, glory to God Alone... we are naught without infinite beloved's graces flowing... om guru, om spirit, om bliss...
