1248. Losing the Mind....

Mind is “Anaatma” that which cannot be annihilated and you don’t have to either. What Maharshi Ramana referred to as “Manonasha” is to drop the mind or losing the mind. Just by knowing that mind is “mithyatva” (Illusion) one can transcend it. It is futile to try to kill the “rope snake” which is the illusion of the mind. Only being aware of the “reality” of the rope helps remove that snake in the mind. It is the mind dwelling in the head which had recorded the image of the snake that is superimposing it on the rope. If the mind had never seen a snake it would not have had the material called “Snake” to superimpose on the “Rope”. 

Mind dwells in head as well as heart. Mind in the head is quick to decide, it has Chitta (Memory) as its aide. Mind working from heart is pensive; it has Buddhi (Intellect) as its advisor. If mind perceives a thing from the head its output is Yuktartha (Rational) and if the mind is relating through heart it is Bhavapurna (Emotional). Rational mind has logic but fails to decide on how it is important. If head alone becomes the centre of activates it is better to cut off from it. This is what Maharshi Ramana mentioned when he talked about “Manonasha” (Losing the Mind).

The output got from both Rational and Emotional mind accumulates to form “I” ness. So in brief Mind is the storehouse of numerous thoughts and experiences. This “I” is a vital spark that transcends the body. The body might decline, degenerate and decay but the “I” thought is never touched by death.

This “I” which lies in the mind has unfulfilled desires and untold ambitions. Unfortunately when this physical body loses its ability to continue this “I” though does not and cannot fulfil the desire and ambitions. It needs the support of a physical body not necessarily a human. Hence that remaining residue of unfulfilled desire and untold ambitions leap forth our “I” thought to that specific condition in space and time so that the unfulfilled longings can materialise. That is the reason for the “I” thought to don a new body and this is termed rebirth.

Is there as remedy to minimise this “I” thought???? 

A Vichara (Contemplation) of “Who I am???” is the best and most effective method to lose the “I” thought which is the basic reason for rebirth. This is the Vedantic method of realising the unreality of the Mind through philosophical thinking. But then we are in the physical world what to do with the “I” thoughts that gets generated in this life span. Some say Manolaya (Dissolution of Mind) helps and it can be experienced in Nada Yoga (Merger with Music) and also by performing Pranayama (Breath Control), but unfortunately this phase is a temporary absorption of the mind. There are possibilities that “I” thought could spring back again into action.

When mind is devoid of thoughts and has nowhere to go it automatically turns inward. Then the mind sees its own source and becomes THAT (Self). It is not as the subject perceiving an object but it is becoming an un-objectivable subject. In a dark place a flame from the lamp is necessary to illumine so that we can see the objects, but to see the flame there is no need of another flame as the flame itself is self-luminous. In the same way to look at objects outside reflected light of the mind is necessary but to see the Self it is enough that the mind turns towards it. When mind turn inward it loses itself and Self shines forth. Thus when the mind is lost there is Self alone. This is Manonasha.