35. Role of the Moon for Progeny.

Sun Light is trapped in the leaves by the plants to convert water absorbed by roots and carbon-di-oxide got from atmosphere into a form of energy called Glucose. Science has termed this process as Photosynthesis. It is most vital for the survival of the plant. The Sun Light is absorbed by Chlorophyll, a green pigment in leaves.

Will the leaves get anything from the moon light???

What has our scriptures got to say about it. Let us see.

Purusha Sukta which is a part of Rig Veda describes the Cosmic Being. While mentioning the advent of moon it says “Chandrama Manaso Jatha” meaning out of the Cosmic Beings mind came the moon. Generally when addressing a mentally ill person we hear people use the word “Lunatic” the word Luna is moon in Latin.

We Indians know since ages that moon represents the mind. The emotions of a person have a subtle link to the waxing and waning of the moon. There are instances where people often complain to the psychiatrist that their sleep is disrupted on full moon day. Despite all the available modern comforts to sleep lunar cycles still alter our brain activity to influence the mind and disrupt sleep. So the influence of moon on mind is not a mystery.

Our ancients believe that Surya is Atma Karaka and Chandra is Manah Karaka. Consciousness is Sun and Mind is Moon. Sri Sri Sankara explains very well in Tattva Bodha the characteristic of the Jeevatma (Individual Consciousness).

Jeevatma is an amalgamation of Consciousness and Mind. Jeevatma feels like Paramatama (Absolute Consciousness) and thinks it is invincible. This Jeevatma is likened to an iron ball which is black and cold in Tattva Bodha. When the iron ball which is black and cold is thrown into a blazing fire the ball will become hot and red by acquiring the characteristics of the fire. Without Consciousness the Jeevatma is just a Preta (cluster of thought). This cluster of thoughts is also referred to as Sukshma Deha (Subtle Body).

In Akshara Parabrahma Yoga, the chapter 8 of Bhagavad-Gita Sri Krishna talks of two paths taken by the Sukshma Deha after death. Those who have attained liberation merge with Him by taking the Sun Path (merger with Absolute Consciousness). Those with unfulfilled desires and untold ambitions take the form of Preta and is reborn again to fulfil them. The Pret takes the Moon patha and from there it takes the route to the vital fluid of male species through plants.

The Moon sheds light what is called Chandrakanti which is absorbed by the leaves. The Preta slips from the moon beam onto the leaf and the leaf takes shape of the bud and the bud blossoms to be a flower and from the flower comes the produce, be it a fruit or a grain. The male species consume it and deposit it in the womb of the female species. The progeny continues.......

34. Mind & Consciousness....

The moment the mind realises that “I am, so the World is” then it has comprehended the Vedantic reality. The mind which imagines that “World is, so I am” it is yet in the iron clutches of materialism. What is written in the first line as “Mind” is that which is inside when it projects outside it is matter. When projected outside it assumes the form of subject, whereas in relative sense it is only an object to the subject (Consciousness). Mind exists because of Consciousness. 

Consciousness and the Mind are like Sun and Moon respectively. Moon shines because of the Sun, Mind flourishes because of Consciousness. So in that sense both are inseparable. 

Mind performs dual role. In one role it induces desire which incites action. In the other role it reacts or responds to the situations. When Ego dominates Mind reacts, when in conjunction with Consciousness Mind responds.

We humans are born with a bundle of thoughts. There is thought sphere in which we all are functioning. It is hard to conclude whether the thoughts come from outside or they are transmitted through the genes, or both. In the process of dispensing with them we accumulate more and more of them. The memories of the past and the fantasies of the future are the fodder for the thought. 

Mind full of thoughts is clouded. When Mind is clouded it cannot transmit the light of Consciousness in fullness. Mind has to be crystal clear. The clouded Mind does not grasp the whole. The flip flop of the Mind makes it clouded. Mind does not stay in one place it is always oscillating between the past and the future. It is this oscillation that formulates the Mind. If the Mind is in the present it is no longer needed. Mind has its presence in the future as well as in the past not in the present. 
This oscillation between the past and the future entwines the thought to become a knot, and astonishingly it is the same Mind which untangles it. 

It is interesting to know that the very instrument used to free ourselves from the thing called “Mind”, is the Mind. Hence some ancient seers and modern thinkers feel that there is no such thing called Mind. Hence they point out to Consciousness reiterating the Mahavakya of Upanishad “Tat Tvam Asi.”  That is what Advaita mean the oneness.  

If this is true does Mind exist???

• Yes, Mind does exist but it has four features. Mind still is Divine; Mind swaying is Human; Mind stalled is Guru; Mind swinging is psychotic.

33. Know your Mind better so that it can mind you Better….!

Western psychologists relate Mind in terms of Consciousness and according to them Mind and Consciousness are used as equivalents to each other. The Mind they refer to has no satisfactory Sanskrit word as the notion is different. When I speak of Mind in our ancient scriptures I am pointing to refer “Inner Conscience” (Antahkarana), which consists of Manas (sensory information receiver and processor), Buddhi (Intellect), Chitta (Memory storage), Ahamkara (Ego). While these four function within the “Outer Instruments” (Bahyakarana) the sensory organs work outward, amazingly both require Consciousness (Chaitanya) to make it felt.

Antahkarana illuminates from the light of Chaitanya just as Moon shines with the help of light from Sun. But on what would Antahkarana sustain? Scriptures say it sustains on the food we take. Once a master taught his disciple a sloka. The disciple was very good in reciting the sloka by memory. The master asked his disciple to go on fast. After a week master asked him to recite, he was able to recite with a little difficulty. Master asked him to continue fasting for another week. Then he asked him to recite the sloka. Now the disciple was not able to recollect the sloka properly. The master pointed out to the disciple that food was required to sustain the Antahkarana even though it is illuminated by Chaitanya.

Antahkarana is by itself a Jada Vastu (inert), only due to Chaitanya it is lively and makes us believe that it is vibrant, powerful, energetic and pulsating. It is a bridge between the physical body and the higher Self. For the physical body to experience the higher Self the bridge has to be in perfect condition that is Anthakarana has to be Crystal Clear. 

How to have a Crystal Clear Antahkarana? 

We need not think of doing great virtues and practising austerities. If I want my shirt clean all I do is remove the dirt, I do not attempt to make it clean. Similarly, by just letting go all the negative traits Anthakarana gets purified automatically. The negative traits are the Arishadvargas (six inner enemies) called desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy which are to be addressed.

How did these negative traits reside in us did we invite them?  Or have they gained access without our permission?  

No, they are the results of ignorance about the higher Self. Instead of identifying our self with the physical body or the “Bridge” mind, if we can get identified with our higher Self, which is immortal and bliss itself. I feel to get identified with higher Self, one needs total commitment and sincere enquiry. As one advance in this enquiry with an unbiased mind, the negative traits just like that detach themselves without his knowledge.

So, does it mean that practising positive trait is of no use?  No it is not so, the positive trait I practice will help the harmony of the society I live to a larger extent and I can use my physical body and “Bridge” mind as tools for it. I observe that in a garden the gardener not only keep an eye on weeds, but also plant and nurture flower bearing plants so that weeds do not sprout. Similarly, if I feed only the positive thoughts, the negative ones will wither and die. And to overcome attachment, we can attach to the highest so that the lower attachments weaken and fall off.

I agree that sometimes these positive traits can inflate Ego. But when I am struggling to overcome negative traits I need practice positive traits and use them as in the pole vault event at Olympics the pole-vaulter requires the pole to rise above the bar. Though he has to abandon the pole at the right moment to soar over the bar and clear it. I need to use positive traits to fight the negative and ultimately let go both.

32. Beware of Mind Attacks!!!!!

When the blood flowing to and from the heart is blocked we suffer a Heart Attack. This could lead to immediate death of an individual. Fortunately we have Cardiac Sonographers who can help us scan the heart by doing electrocardiogram and echo cardiogram to locate blockages. The blockage is then repaired by Angioplasty and the patient can have a new lease of life. The reason for this blockage could be anything from rupture in the plaque to cholesterol build up in blood vessels or low potassium or magnesium in blood to stress and strain. Whatever could be the reason if one is precautions to get the Echo-cardiogram done he can be treated appropriately.

There is another attack which happens almost unnoticed which is called Mind Attack. The cause for this attack is negative thinking. When thinking itself is in the realm of mind, a thought that surfaces could be positive or negative. As humans we do not have control over the thought. But we can understand that if a thought is negative it can drive us to depression and there is worry which follows and finally fear engulfs.

Depending on the type of thoughts that are generated our closeness to our Self is decided. A negative though drags us far away from our true Self while a positive thought takes us closer to it. When there is a continues flow of negative thoughts our mind develops Mind Attack and this attack on mind would then need several births to get repaired not as easy as the repair done to heart in Angioplasty.

Mind attack caused due to persons or things outside us can be healed in a matter of few days as they are like common cold. When the mind is attacked by our own negative thinking it takes much more time to heal as it could be chronic. Mind Attack by other person could be healed just by forgiving that very person but the attack inflicted by our negative thinking though could be healed takes a lot of time and energy.

Every time a negative thought props up our intellect warns us to discard and get diverted from it but the sad thing is often the warning is neglect. As the mind is satisfied by running after those thoughts which gives instant pleasure, forgetting what is pleasing for us in the long run.

In my childhood days my grandparents would warn me of having negative thoughts by mentioning about “Asthu Devathas.”  They would tell me that Asthu Devatas, two in number were demigods who keep uttering “So Be It” and the moment I have a negative thought and they utter “So Be It” the inauspicious might happen. The point though was to highlight “Yat Bhavo Tat Bhavathi” (As your dispositions, so are the Happenings) which Lord Krishna preached Arjuna when taking about the Trigunas namely Sattva (positive) Rajas (passion) and Tamo (passive) in me.

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will……..What say???