‘Moreover, the connection of the Self with the buddhi, its limiting adjunct, depends on wrong knowledge, and wrong knowledge cannot cease except through perfect knowledge. Hence, as long as there does no rise the cognition of Brahman being the universal Self, so long the connection of the soul with the buddhi and its other limiting adjuncts does not come to an end. Thus scripture also says, “I know that great person of sun-like lustre beyond the darknes. A man who knows him passes over death; there is no other path to go.” (Sv. U. lll.8)’ — Br.S.B., ll.iii.30-31.
Monthly Archives: November 2014
Topic of the Month – buddhi
The mind in Sanskrit is antaHkaraNa. It is the seat of both thought and feeling. It derives from antar – within, interior – and karaNa, which means “instrument” or sense-organ. The mind consists of a number of separate functions – manas, buddhi, chitta and ahaMkAra. The buddhi is responsible for discrimination and judgement, perhaps nearest equated to the intellect in Western usage. It differentiates between pairs of opposites, particularly between transient and eternal. In terms of the ‘spiritual development’ of a man, it is the most important function of the mind, since it is able effectively to exercise control over all of the rest of the body-mind instrument. Without it, we are no better than animals, driven by primitive instincts and selfish, acquisitive urges. Continue reading