MIND MYSTERIES & CONTROL - 1. WHAT IS MIND - Sri Swami Sivananada - The Mind: Its Mysteries & Control

THE MIND: ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL - 1. WHAT IS MIND - Sri Swami Sivananada - Complete Works with FULL English Translation of all Sanskrit Words.

In the opening chapter of "The Mind - Its Mysteries and Control", Sri Swami Sivananda delves into the fundamental nature of the mind, its origin, functions, and the path to its control. The text, deeply rooted in Vedantic philosophy and Yogic practice, offers a profound exploration of the mind's role in shaping human experience and spiritual progression. Swami Sivananda begins by discussing the mind as a mysterious force, one that most people fail to comprehend fully, despite its central role in their lives. 

The Mind as a Wall Between You and God
Swami Sivananda asserts that the mind acts as a barrier between the individual soul and the Supreme, or God. This metaphorical "wall" of the mind obstructs one’s ability to experience direct union with the Divine. The key to overcoming this wall, he suggests, lies in practices such as meditation (especially Om-Meditation) or devotion, which serve to dismantle the mental barriers and bring one face-to-face with God. This illustrates the mind’s pivotal role as both a medium and an obstacle in the spiritual journey. 

The Mystery of the Mind
Despite its omnipresence in our lives, Swami Sivananda laments that the vast majority of people, including so-called educated individuals, have little understanding of the mind’s true nature and operations. Western psychology, while advanced in understanding the physical brain, is still far from grasping the deeper, subjective nature of the mind. According to Western scientists, the mind is merely a product of brain activity, a biological function akin to the secretion of bile by the liver. This, Swami Sivananda suggests, is a gross oversimplification, and he emphasizes that only Yogis and those who practice deep meditation can truly understand the mind’s intricate workings. 

The Origin of the Mind
Swami Sivananda explains that the mind originates from the Supreme Consciousness, which is the fundamental source of all existence. He recounts the creation of the mind in a symbolic, Vedantic manner: the Supreme Cosmic Spirit (Brahman) manifested the universe, and from this divine act, the mind was born. The heart, in this context, is the seat of the mind, and from the heart bursts forth the mind, which becomes the channel through which the Supreme manifests in the form of differentiated beings and objects. In meditation, the mind returns to its original seat in the heart, where it experiences a state of pure, undivided awareness. 

Cosmic Mind and Individual Mind
The concept of the "Cosmic Mind" is a central idea in Vedantic thought. Swami Sivananda explains that the individual mind is an extension or fragment of the Cosmic Mind, which is synonymous with terms such as universal mind, superconscious mind, or infinite mind. Just as electricity flows from a power station to individual light bulbs, the Cosmic Mind provides energy to individual minds. Even though the individual mind appears separate due to the physical boundaries of the body, it is, in reality, in constant contact with other minds and with the universal mind. This interconnectedness forms the basis of the Raja Yoga theory of mind, where one’s thoughts and intentions can influence others, no matter the distance. 

Mind in Orthodox Hindu Philosophy
Swami Sivananda further explains that in Orthodox Hindu Philosophy, the Cosmic Mind is the first principle derived from the Unmanifested aspect of Brahman, the Absolute Supreme. The mind, which arises from this cosmic energy, is inseparable from the ego, the sense of ‘I’. The ego is the root of all mental activity and is the lens through which individuals experience and interpret the world. This process of identification with the ego results in attachment to external objects, desires, and thoughts. The mind,...