Understanding what is Mind(Manah) & Buddhi (Intelligence) in Spirituality:
Following points are related to spirituality, which helps to
understand, what is Buddhi (Intelligence) & Mind(Manah:)
1) Intelligence(Buddhi) is 'Your knowledge to discriminate what is right or wrong' Or 'Your understanding on things & concepts'. The intelligence(buddhi) is gained or acquired from one's experience, Knowledge or Practice.
2) Mind(Manah) is a kind of Sense,
so mind is some times called 6th sense. Through Mind you are getting aware of
other 5 senses, & through mind you are experiencing 5 senses &
body. Person's past experience & impressions will be present in Mind, but Intelligence(Buddhi) is your "understanding or knowledge gained" from your past experience, this understanding or knowledge is present in human-being as one's Buddhi(Intelligence) for discriminating either right or wrong. With Intelligence(buddhi) we guide
the mind in right path or else mind chooses its own path for its pleasure without
caring right/wrong or good/bad.
3) A new born child has
the Mind but no Buddhi(Intelligence). A New born child gains Intelligence(buddhi) as he
grows and experiences things. So when small children do mistakes, we don't take it in more
serious, as we know that their Intelligence(buddhi) is not well developed(but
their Mind will be present) and Parents guide children so that they can understand better and gain intelligence.
4) When any person gets 'very much Angry', during this time, mind will be present but his Intelligence(Buddhi) will not be
available immediately and because of this, such person behaves like ignorant when he is too Angry.
5) In sleep when experiencing dreams, many times only the Mind will be experienced but Intelligence will not be available. So many dreams are not as we think.
Some times due to practice or daily routine, we may do some routine work much with the sense
of mind with very less intelligence. But this does not mean that intelligence
is not-required and only mind can do the things.
The great spiritual book Bhagavad-Gita(Bhagavad Geeta) says that
Mind & Intelligence are separate, check below verses:
Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 3, verse 42: The senses are superior to Body; mind is higher than senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and the Soul(self) is even higher than the intelligence.
Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 7, verse 4: Lord Krishna said: Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego - these eight divisions all together are my external material energies (bhinna prakrti).
Some times Lust(or desire) can overpower Buddhi(Intelligence),
Mind & senses - This is mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita:
Bhagavad Gita, chapter 3, Verse 40: The senses, the mind and the intellect are said to be the dwelling places of this Lust, which covers the real knowledge of the living being and bewilders him.
But one's Soul(self or Atma) is
higher than Intelligence, Mind, Senses &
Body.
Soul(atma) itself has the
knowledge within and no need to search for outside knowledge. Soul is Sat-chit-ananda
Svarupa(means with Eternal, Knowledge & Bliss). Those who are self realized and steady in their own soul, such persons can guide their Intelligence, mind, senses & body with the experience &
knowledge of one's own Soul(self).
Bhagavad Gita, chapter 3, Verse 43: Thus realizing oneself(Ones own soul) to be higher to senses, mind and intelligence, one should control the lower thing by the higher thing.
Bhagavad-Gita(chapter 2 verse 55): The Supreme Lord said: When a man gives up all varieties of 'material sense desire' which arise from mental concoction, and when one finds satisfaction in his self(soul) alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.
Realization of self(soul) is not easy without right effort.
The true source of awareness with all living-beings is the Soul(self). Soul is the Knower. Bhagavad-Gita mentions that Body & Mind are like outer dress for the soul(self).
Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 2 verse 22: As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.
From long time due to lack of self knowledge, we are thinking ourselves as body & mind instead of self. This false-identification of oneself as body & mind instead of Self(soul) is called False-ego(ahankara). One has to overcome this, and one's consciousness should become steady on one's real self(soul), then one can realize one's true self (soul). This is possible by proper meditation & knowledge.
Bhagavad-Gita(chapter 5 verse 24): One whose happiness is within, who is active within, who rejoices within and is illumined within, is actually the perfect Yogi. He is liberated in the Supreme, and ultimately he attains the Supreme.
Jai Sri Krishna! Jai Sriman Narayana!
