The raving and
rambling of Duryodhana (an evil
figure in Mahabharata) in one of his
reflective/ repentant moments highlights the predicament of every individual.
“I know what
is right, but I cannot pursue it; I know what is wrong, but I cannot desist
from doing it; I do as directed by someone who seems to be within me”
We seem to
be totally powerless against this powerful yet unknown foe/ force.
What makes us a Prisoner of our Past or an Architect of our Future?
Any force
causes harm only when we do not know its law of operation. For example,
electricity is dangerous only if we do not know how it operates. Once we
understand the Law, it becomes our friend. They are our Masters, if we are
ignorant; we are their Masters, if we are Knowledgeable.
Man is Mind and
Mind is Man. Mind alone causes man to act, commit sins and noble acts, thereby
causing bondages/ liberation (Man eva Manushyana Karan Bandh Mokshayoh!)BG.
If we are to
control our life, we have to control our Mind. Whether we are Architects of our
Future or remain Prisoners of our Past is dependent on our ability to decipher
our mind and decode our thoughts.
Our Mind has
been ‘designed’ to seek experiences constantly and continuously. Never a moment
can it remain idle without brooding on old thoughts or breeding on new ones – the past makes it ruminate over the
memories, the present makes it
muse over the happenings and the future
makes it imagine over possibilities.
The thought
process continues ad infinitum until sleep interrupts or death intervenes. It
does not avail a break for itself nor provide a breather for the individual.
All
sensations/ inputs/ stimuli to Mind come from two sources:
From
External world – constant and continuous sensations arise on interaction with Objects
of Senses.
From
Internal world – constant and continuous thoughts arise from the vast reservoir of
past memories.
The
operation of Mind is facilitated or coordinated through its four faculties/
components:
The role of Manas (Psychological Mind): All external sensations/ stimuli
are received by / routed through the (Psychological) Mind. Rather, Mind is
constantly on the lookout for sensations.
It looks for longevity, intensity and
variety of sensations – more the better! This is the reason why everyone seeks
constant change (variety), passion/ violence (intensity) and prolongation, if
pleasant (longevity).
When it senses
an object, especially an object of desire, it is enamored/ addicted to it. Manas
is called Graha (that which grasps) but an Object is called Atigraha
(that which has greater grasp) – the reason why mere advice never helps people
smitten with desires to keep away from the Objects of desire (Wine/ Women/
Wealth)!!
But external
sensations can be skipped or stopped as in Solitude/ Stillness/ Silence, the
reason why Saints and Renunciates (Sadhus and Sanyasis) move away from
the hustle and bustle of city life into the ideal and idyllic ambience of
forest life.
For a
man-of-the-world (Samsari), withdrawal from life is neither advisable
(as we have duties to perform) nor possible (as we are infatuated and
infuriated with desires). For most part of our lives, we remain entangled in
the Objects of world.
Thus Manas
makes us a Prisoner of Present (through Objects of Desires).
The role of Chitta (Sub-Conscious): When sensations from External World
(Ishwar Shrishti) are stopped (when quiet/ alone/ isolated or in dream/
meditation), thoughts/ feelings/ emotions from Internal world (Jeeva
Shrishti), i.e. Subconscious (Chitta)
automatically take over.
These suo
moto thoughts/ feeling/ emotions cannot be stalled or suspended by the
individual. These thoughts arise out of the remnants of our past. If we had
pleasant/ painful experiences, our thoughts/ feelings/ emotions are accordingly
sweet/ bitter. All incidents/ accidents do happen only due to our past Karmas.
All our
reactions (mechanical/ involuntary actions) are based on our past life/
experiences. Chitta imprisons us with memories of past and almost never
allows us to look at the present or beyond into the future.
Thus Chitta alone makes us a Prisoner of
Past.
The role of
Ego (Ahamkara): Ahamkara
is the executing arm of mind. Once advised by Intellect, it puts in efforts to
accomplish the action. It is the Ego which makes an individual aggressive and
adamant. Once set, it refuses to budge or nudge even an iota or an inch.
Hence
egoistic people never accept defeat even when beaten squarely. Success makes
ego gloat and failure makes it groan. When ego hits the bull’s eye, it exults
or is excited. When it misses, it sulks or is singed. Ahamkara alone creates Karmic residues through:
Actions which are destructive and malicious, that sets off discord in others/ society.
Reactions which are negative (Shadvikaras), when things go astray.
Inaction due to
inertia or indolence (despite advice to the contrary by Intellect).
Thus,
through actions, reactions and inactions, Ahamkara
binds us to future births and bonds us to further sufferings.
Thus Ahamkara makes us a Prisoner of Future.
The role of
Intellect (Buddhi): All sensory
inputs to Chitta pass through
Intellect. Intellect discriminates and dissects the incoming sensations. It
removes the chaff and forwards the essence to Chitta, the store-house of memories, for reference.
The
memory-bank of Chitta is built on the
edifice and experiences of the individual’s past. Chitta then posits/ negates/ confirms / informs the relevance and
interest. Accordingly Intellect decides an appropriate action. This is then
conveyed to Ahamkara by Intellect for
initiating and completing action.
When
Intellect is weak: Intellect then has limited power/ experience to analyse/ decide. It is solely guided by impulses and compulsions.
The
impulsive thoughts originate from within (Chitta). They prompt
individuals to be emotional, indecisive or even psychotic. The past memories
haunt them through emotional/ nostalgic thoughts.
The
compulsive thoughts originate from without (objects, people and/ or situation).
Others can easily lead/ mislead the individual. A dominating parent/ spouse/
child/ boss/ society – just anybody can influence the individual. He then
becomes a puppet or a victim of circumstances.
Such people
get upset/ devastated at the slightest provocation/ obstacle/ failure!
When
Intellect is strong: It dissects incoming sensations and selects/
forwards only those it deems fit, for reference to Chitta. Even those where Chitta shows interest, intellect
may ‘decide’ against it, if it is not in line with its code-of-conduct. The
‘censored/ edited’ thoughts are then passed onto Ahamkara for necessary
action.
Hence Ahamkara
does not fly-off-the-handle. Thus all actions are pre-mediated and not
Karma-producing. It is, therefore, the pre-requisite of a disciplined
phenomenal life. It also forms the basis for initial stages of spiritual
journey.
Intellect
alone makes us free or bound:
When
Intellect is dormant, Chitta is
active and we become Prisoners of Past. Whenever Intellect is active, we become
masters of our actions and hence, the Architects of future.
If Intellect
is strong, do we always do all noble things and never commit crime/
karma-producing deeds?
Many
dictators, criminals and unscrupulous individuals/ scientists also have a strong
intellect. They misuse it for destroying/ sowing discord in others. The reason
for this is, though Intellect decides, its decision (right or wrong) is based
on the code-of-conduct it has formulated for itself.
A
code-of-conduct is the value system one has imbibed from society, family and
personal experience. It reflects in all our efforts and executions.
Everybody
acquires a value system. However, whether the values are right, good or
beneficial depends on whether they are in conformity with the societal needs or
a divine order. If the values are egocentric with the individual as the
beneficiary, then even if it had been the most well-envisioned plan/
well-executed action, it produces Karma.
Values are
indicated by the society but inculcated by the individual. Chitta plays
a crucial, albeit a passive role in assimilating good values. Chitta has
to be saturated with noble and godly feelings. If it be filled with gruesome or
ghastly, malicious or dishonorable thoughts, then actions invariably produce
Karma.
Thus,
The secret of a good life here and hereafter is:
· Clarity of thought (a strong Buddhi) and Purity
of heart (a clean Chitta).
· For Clarity of Thoughts, sharpen Intellect with
constant Wisdom (Viveka).
· For Purity of Heart, fill Chitta with positive
emotions, noble feelings and pure thoughts in secular pursuits and True Desire (Satyakamam) and Surrender (Sharanam)
in spiritual pursuits.
· Chitta makes us a
Prisoner of Past (through impure memories/ unholy experiences) and enslaves us in this life.
· Manas makes us a
Prisoner of Present (through attraction to Objects / attachment to
People) and enslaves us in this/ next life.
· Ahamkara makes us a
Prisoner of the Future (through unrighteous Actions/ inappropriate
Reactions) and enslaves us in the next life.
· Intellect makes us an Architect of Future (through
Wisdom/ Righteous Values). Strong Intellect alone relieves us from the
shackles of bondage.