The Impure Mind-Part 2

Let me clarify on a comment that someone made about my use of the term “impure”.  It was pointed out that for some people the term “impure” can be rather charged and felt as judgmental and put in the same category as being called a “sinner”.  This is not at all the intent when I use this term in yoga.

Consider yoga as a science of consciousness trying to dissect the workings of the mind much as one would take apart a watch to see how all the gears and springs work with each other to make the watch function. In the dissection of the mind, the ancient yoga masters divided the mind into the inner and outer minds, buddhi and manas respectively. Unlike much of the neuroscience world, yoga sees the mind as existing beyond the brain.   

The buddhi mind is positioned closer to absolute higher consciousness than the manas.  The buddhi has the power of discernment. The buddhi has greater potential to access to the absolute consciousness which is infinite intelligence that is beyond space and time.

The manas mind is the perceiver to the outside world through the five senses of smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing.  The  manas organizes the outer experiences into conceptual structures along with memory and responses of likes and dislikes leading to desires and emotions. The tendency of the manas mind is to differentiate between object and subject, and thus create separation leaving impressions on the mind that cloud the luminosity of the buddhi.  This clouding is what I referred to as impurity of the mind to see its true nature.

Yoga says that over-attachment to the ever changing outer world is due to a misunderstanding of who we truly are.  We are all divine sparks of being.  To think less is due to “impure” conditioned beliefs that say you are not enough. The impurity (or also referred to as ignorance) arises from the manas attempts to chase after fulfillment through sensory experiences rather than from seeking the inner experience of one’s pure essence. 

Thus it is as if the manas mind strengthens as the buddhi mind atrophies. This imbalance of strength actually leads to an unsteadiness in the mind.   This is not a judgement on the mind or person but an observation as to the condition of the mind’s state.

Going back to the watch analogy.  If dirt collects on the gears and springs, the watch does not function optimally.  In the same token if the manas mind is overburdened with negative and unhealthy mental impressions the function of the buddhi mind is hindered unable to access its true nature. Through the practices of yoga the impressions on the mind are cleaned away so was not to obstruct the experience of your true essence.

Yoga Sutra I.3:  Tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe’vasthānam.  “Then the Seer becomes established in its essential nature.”