The Mind is the Source and the Solution to Suffering

If you have been following the past few posts, I have unpacked the construct of the mind according to yoga. According to the teachings the individual mind consists of three parts - the manas, the ahamkara, and the buddhi. 

Samkhya philosophy which provides the foundation to yoga's teachings describes the unfolding of pure consciousness into matter.  It states that we have come into being as a result of this unfolding.  Samkhya gives a metaphysical perspective stating that all that exists is from the interaction of pure cosmic consciousness (purusha) interacting with its impusle (prakriti) to manifest. In the act of manifestation the infinite possiblities of the imperceptible can become perceptible as matter that we can smell, taste, see, touch and hear. This interaction on the gross level occurs through our manas mind. 

We in our dense form  of matter still retain aspects of the imperceptible consciousness from which we evolved. The buddhi mind is the wisdom keeper of this essence.  The manas mind allows us to live in the world of matter. These experiences and lay impressions on our mind as to how to feel, think, and behave becoming our self-identity through the  ahamkara. The world of matter is temporary and ever changing. Conflict arises when expectations are not met.  Over attachment to the outcome of manifestation is the source of pain and suffering.  Here our mind can be a source of suffering.   

It is the buddhi mind that carries the essence of pure consciousness from which we originated. This pure cosmic consciousness is eternal and unchanging and a source of endless joy not dependent on the sense experience.

Suffering begins upon eating the "fruit of knowledge". Pursing sensation we take a bite out of the apple, and as a result we reject our purest, naked self.  In our ignorance we run to cover up our own purity and from then on lose connection to the paradise. We turn away from the sorrowless innocence of the Garden of Eden and  commit to the mind of the sensory experiences of the apple.   

All is not lost , it is the buddhi mind that remembers and can bring us back to our earlier evolute that still resides in the garden. Meditation is the moving of the mind inward to our buddhi mind to remember our essence where eternal joy is obtainable.  Here, our mind can be the solution to suffering.