Miscellaneous - Religion   

Locus of identity

CHENNAI: Among human faculties, the intellect (knowledge sheath) is superior because it is its uniqueness and brilliance that make a person distinguished. Paradoxically, what is an advantage in the world becomes a deterrent in spiritual life because it is the mind-intellect that conceals the Self (Atman) within. The body and the mind are instruments and it is the intellect which is responsible for man’s bondage and liberation as it bestows the sense of agency to the individual. The mind has four aspects: Manas, which is responsible for its wavering nature, Buddhi being the ability of reasoning (intellect), Antahkarana which has the capacity for memory, and Ahamkara, which is the ego, the locus of self-identity.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said like a mirror that reflected the object kept before it, the intellect reflected the Self (consciousness) because it is the subtlest of the human faculties and closest to the Self. In the process it passes off as the Self (I) with the sense of agency having the powers of knowledge, action and will. The Buddhi has these three powers only because of the Self. The Buddhi can thus elevate the individual or pull him down to depths of depravity. A person by cultivating the right company (Satsangh) can uplift himself spiritually. How does one recognise such people? They are those who are engaged in the pursuit of the Self and are of good conduct. Such a person will not engage with the world much, will be a man of few words and will not have expectations. The mind of such a person will be content because he will be always engaged with God. These characteristics are just the opposite of worldliness, and hence a spiritual seeker must seek solitude.

The Vivekachudamani states that it is the knowledge sheath of the individual characterised by egoism (the individual soul), which is without beginning, that carries out all activities. Assuming different bodies it does good and evil actions propelled by previous desires and experiences the results in the form of joy and grief. It is this knowledge sheath which experiences the different states of waking, dream, and rests during sleep. The Self is beyond these three states.

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