Relationship between mun (mind) and buddhi (brain)

To a friend who asked me about the relationship between mind and brain and the best way to deal with mind while studying / meditating.

Mun (mind), buddhi (brain) and ahankar (feeling of 'I') may not be separate entitiies but three functions of one entity which is perhaps called as antahkaran.

Mun perhaps can be said to be a name given to our desires and emotions whereas buddhi is a process of evaluation of thought or action mainly based on borrowed ideas of right or and wrong (good or bad, moral or immoral etc.). In a few cases this evaluation may be based on one's experience such as experience of harm caused to one's body by a particular eatable.

Buddhi gives inputs to a person (antahkaran) to decide on a course of action to be adopted in a given situation. Once decision is taken (such as to take Civil Services Exam), it often requires a sustained effort. But Mun by its very nature does not like to be in one place - it always wants a change. Mun will not even stick to its favourable activity like being in market, chit-chat with friend, embracing or kissing a girl. From there also sooner than later it wants a change. Buddhi wants one to make sustained effort for a achievement of a goal and Mun wants frequent change. And thus is a perennial conflict between the two aspects of same entity goes on and on.

To satisfy both is a tricky game. In the spiritual field, those who have known these aspects of antahkaran, created many processes such as a process of idol worshipping (Puja with all materials and rituals or only through visualisation – called Manas Puja). In this process Mun is provided with moving space, an opportunity for change inasmuch as it has to attend to different actions for Puja or can visualise different aspects of the diety (trishul, damru, moon, snake etc. in case of Shiva or sankha, chakra, gada etc. for Vishnu) and buddhi keeps it within the defined territory connected with specified aspects of Puja. It may likened to something like a cattle tied to a post by a rope. The rope controls the movement of the cattle while allowing it some freedom of movement also.

But knowing that even this relative freedom to Mun is not enough for keeping it on track beyond some reasonable time, these masters provided for further movement by switching over between Puja, Shastra Pathan, Japa, Yoga, Pranayam, Satsang, Bhajan Keertan etc. These engagement also fills most of the time of the day and there is, therefore, little time for it to travel into other desires and strengthening their strong hold.

As for the actions in the external world, one needs to devise similar processes. While preparing for Civil Services Exams, I used to switch over from one core subject to another after an hour or two then shift to reading relating to newspaper, magazines or other material on General Studies. When one needs a break from these studies, let it be physical one like long walk, jogging, swimming etc. (these have many other benefits) rather than engaging the mind in some mental activity. I also had put a target of 42 hours of study (I was in job at that time) every week and used to keep strict day-to-day record of my studies of various subjects. One has to obviously force oneself into studies – there is no other way – Padhai mein Mun lagaane ka koi aur tareeka nahin hai.

As for the way in which Mun works, one also needs to understand that anything to which attention is paid becomes stronger. If one starts thinking about the desires, they go on getting strengthened. By thinking of what is going on in the mind and thinking of getting rid of it, is not a process of ignoring the thought but of paying attention to it. It appears that in the name of ignoring, perhaps, you are paying attention to these thoughts.

One can never suppress or control Mun, one can only reach an understanding that Mun is merely constituted of ever changing thoughts and desires. Since they are ever changing (continuously being born and dying) they are not real and of no consequence. Further, satisfaction of any desire is temporary inasmuch as after a while it again arises. Going for its satisfaction is therefore inconsequential. When one reaches this understanding (mere intellectual understanding will not do), the thoughts and desires are effortlessly ignored - being inconsequential.

At the same time one has also to understand the difference between a need (food, water, sleep, sex, reasonable comfort for the body etc.) and a desire which is merely a thought (shauk and wants). Non-fulfillment of needs and trying to fulfill other desires both lead to perversions. Needs, therefore, require to be met whereas other desires require to be ignored.

In a bhajan OSHO's Sanyasis beautifully say,

"Nahin jeetna hai is mun ko, mun ko sirf samajhana hai.

Yeh sevak se nahin hai jyada, is se nahin ulajhana hai.

………

Mun kaa koi dosh nahin hai, is ka kaam bahakna hai.”

But understanding this nature of the mind requires some distance from the mind. If one is ‘one with mind’, it cannot understand it and come out of its grip. This distancing requires an experience of self, the witness – distinct from body and mind. Various rigorous sadhanas like ‘Vipassana’ of Goenkaji, Osho’s ‘Dynamic’ meditation and ‘Gibberish’, Nithyanandji’s ASP and NSP programmes etc. give that experience. A few may get that experience in the presence of a Guru. Equipped with this experience and being alert of the need to observe the mind, one would understand it and get out of its captivity. Those who have known call it as “Freedom from slavery of one’s own mind”

One more thing one has to remember is that one needs to avoid inputs (provocative literature, company of girls etc.) through sense perceptions which fuel passions and desires and distract the mind from one's chosen activity. Frequent activities like useless chat with friends and trying to put something on the facebook or blog activates one’s mind to think again and again and these create habit patterns which are also distractions from chosen activity.

I had also replied to a query to one of my friends on a related subject. one may like to go through it. It will also put on my blog under the caption "Inner chattering does not stop" in a couple of days from now.