THE HUMN MIND

Psychology in simple terms can be defined as the study of the mind and its operation. According to Vedanta ( Upanishads) the mind, sensory system and the vital force ( Manas, indriyas, and prana ) constitute what is called the subtle body of man ( sukshma sariram ). This comprises our psycho-physical system which is the source of all our experiences, emotions and awareness of the phenomenal world.  Of these mind is the principal organ responsible for our existence., awareness and the total experience that constitutes life itself. Acharya Sankara makes this amply clear when he says,” when it (mind) is destroyed, everything else is destroyed, and when it is manifested, everything else is manifested “ ( Vivekachudamani.169 ). All human experiences are rooted in the mind and our world of experiences is woven out of the mental sheath. Once this source is destroyed, the universe ceases to exist for man. However, yogis through rigorous practices arrive at this no-mind state and at this state they transcend the phenomenal world to reach samadhi, the spiritual unity with the absolute. The Zen philosophy also speaks of such transcendental state.