[Advaita-l] Functions of the mind

[jaldhar at braincells.com]

On Thu, 14 Apr 2022, Harsh Raval wrote:

> Is the work of buddhi to make only decision and not other things such
> as(vichar,knowledge,understanding).
> If no then plz can you cite from scriptures with verse no. That the woek of
> buddhi is more than making decisions.

On Sun, 17 Apr 2022, Harsh Raval via Advaita-l wrote:


> I think buddhi(बुद्धि) might have more function other than making deciso
> Plz if you know cite sources🙏
>

JSK Harsh, I am dreadfully sorry for the long delay in responding.  I had 
to make an emergency trip to India and I've been extremely distracted 
these past several weeks and have neglected my Advaita-L mail.

Also just a note, You left the subject line blank.  Please don't do that 
because it will make it hard for people searching the archives to find 
relevant discussions.

In the Vedantaparibasha a shloka is quoted:

मनोबुद्धिरहङ्कारश्चित्तं करणमान्तरम् । संशयो निश्चयो गर्वः स्मर

"manas, buddhi, ahamkara, and chitta make up the internal instrument.
Their objects are doubt, certainty, ego, and memory respectively."


Senses are the external instrument of cognition and mind is the internal 
instrument.  The function of manas is to process the inputs given through 
the senses.  We perceive a multiplicity of things which may 
contradict each other therefore it is said that संशय or doubt is the 
hallmark of  manas.

Buddhi is the function of the mind which as you say makes decisions.  But 
how can we make decisions.  They have to be made based on values. 
(There are a limited number of actions we take based on instinct but 
for human beings this is not as big a factor as for other animals.)  Not 
just the great questions of life which require grand philosophical values 
but even basic day to day life requires deciding between many choices. 
This in return requires analysis (knowledge, understanding etc. as you 
said) in order to provide निश्चय or certainty.  Sometimes we have to make 
decisions without certainty but this is uncomfortable so we always try for 
it.  This is all a function of buddhi.


ahamkara is the bundle of desires, fears etc. that make us who we are and 
is the source of our pride (गर्व)  Or according to Advaita Vedanta, who we 
*think* we are because these things and indeed the whole concept of ego --
"I" that is different from other "I"s -- is delusionary.

Chitta is all the impressions that our environment makes upon our minds 
and our selves.  It's hallmark is memory (स्मरण) but it is more than that. 
There are many things which we do not remember or are even aware of that 
affect the  mental state of even the most rational person.  The ongoing 
turmoil of changes in chitta are the cause of joy, sorrow etc.

These four functions of the mind are caused by maya and one of the goals 
of sadhana must be their suppression or destruction (मनोनाश) and 
replacement by the pure knowledge of Brahman.

  -- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>