Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara | How To Balance The Four Parts of Mind
In yoga, the mind is not seen as synonymous with the brain which has a certain space in the physical body and controls logical operations. The yogic concept of mind combines all the conscious and unconscious activity of a person. It includes our thoughts, feelings, memories, beliefs and even the ego that makes us realize our existence. In yogic understanding, there are 16 dimensions of a human mind, categorized into 4 parts ; Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara.
What is Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara ? Understanding The Four Parts of Mind
Aitareya Upanishad ( To know more about this Upanishad visit https://texts.wara.in/vedas/upanishads/aitareya.html ) gives a list of 16 functions of mind which represent the single generic term ‘Prajnana’ orcognition.
These are :
- ‘Samjnana‘ or awareness
- ‘Ajnana‘ or comprehension
- ‘Vignina‘ or understanding
- ‘Prajnana‘ or knowledge
- ‘Medha‘ or retentiveness
- ‘Drishti‘ or insight
- ‘Dhriti‘ or resolution
- ‘Mati‘ or opinion
- ‘Smriti‘ or memory
- ‘Manisha‘ or reflection
- ‘Juti‘ or impulse
- ‘Samkalpa‘ or conception
- ‘Kratu‘ or purpose
- ‘Asu‘ or vigor
- ‘Kaamah‘ or desire
- ‘Vasha‘ or will.
These are categorized further into 4 parts ; Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara.
Manas | Which keeps the memory
Manas, according to yoga, is the basic part of the mind, associated with getting the external information in the system. Its function is to understand and decide the important and necessary sensory information to pass to the internal system. Manas has the ability to question and doubt. Manas is a controller of the 5 sensory organs and 5 organs of action. It guides the mind to various directions that are important. Since it is in charge of the sensory organs, Manas is easy prey for our desires, wishes, attractions, and aversions. However, Manas does not have the authority to take the final decision, it relies largely on the mechanisms of Buddhi.
Buddhi | Which works intellectually
The word Buddhi is derived from ‘Budh’, which means awakening or awakened. It is a higher state of the mind, closer to wisdom. Buddhi is the discriminating function that judges, decides, and makes cognitive differentiation. Buddhi is the decision maker faculty of the mind. If Buddhi functions properly, the Manas takes its commands and acts accordingly. When it is unclouded completely, it encourages all the other layers to behave in rhythm.
Chitta | Which makes us aware
Chitta in yoga is that property of the mind which makes us aware of the objects, whether we are in a waking or sleeping state (consciously or unconsciously). This Part is basically mind without memory. Chitta is always on , whether you are awake or asleep. Your intellect comes on and goes off. Many times it fails, even when you are awake. But if chitta or the intelligence within you was not always on, you could not stay alive. Try to conduct your breath with your intellect – you will go crazy. Chitta is keeping you alive, keeping you going, making life happen.
Ahamkara | Which provides sense of Identity
You can consider Ahamkara as the person’s ego or the sense of ‘I-ness’. However, it is much more than ego. Ahamkara gives identity to the individual and makes him or her unique. Ahamkara takes in Chitta as a partner to bring the stored memories associated with the person’s ego. It does not let the intellect see the irrationality of those memories, thereby clouding Buddhi.
Interaction Among Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara
Imbalance in the four parts of the mind is the major reason for our disturbed and restless minds. The association between Ahamkara and the memories of Chitta are the major cause of mental problems. The memories stored in Chitta get colored by the ‘I-ness’ of Ahamkara and fight for attention from Buddhi. If Buddhi is not operating logically, these colored impressions drive Manas to take actions that are neither healthy nor good for the mind. When the Chitta is purified, Manas is not anymore, a prey of desires. Yoga emphasizes unclouding the Buddhi to make other aspects of the mind to function healthily.
How To Balance Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara
Be mindful of Your Senses and Actions
The first stage to regulate the mind is to observe the workings of Manas. Being mindful of your senses and actions can make you understand that Manas is playing with them. To bring the fluctuations of Manas in control, you can practice the personal and social disciplines (Yamas and Niyams). They can help you get rid of our loose senses and regulate our actions to clear the way to peace.
Witness Your Thoughts
Observing what comes and what goes is an important exercise to cultivate the workings of Chitta. When you are aware of your thoughts, what your mind is processing for a long time you can better regulate Chitta. it is a process which takes consistent practice. But if you inculcate the habit of performing your breathing and meditations mindfully, you can attenuate Chitta also.
Let Go of the False Associations
The strength of Buddhi is its discriminatory power, the essence of which lies in letting go of the false associations. Falsely identifying ourselves with our body, mind, achievements, pleasures keep the Buddhi clouded. In letting go of the false associations with our body, achievements, pleasures, unnecessary bonding’s Ahamkara drops off, Chitta gets colored with goodness, and Manas act the way beneficial for a person’s peaceful life.
Surrender to the Higher Self
Dissociating with the inaccurate identities and accepting there is a truth beyond our own identity is an exercise to coordinate Ahamkara functions with the system. Yoga tries to transcend the mind. It is to help the mind remember that the impressions caused by it are not real and the truth is beyond that. Supreme Reality is actually the fundamental aspect of our being and not the stories colored by the mind.
Final Takeaway | Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara
The mind, constituting its 4 parts, is responsible for our gross to subtle aspects of being and should be regulated to ensure our healthy and sound existence. The impressions of the mind influence our daily activities to a great extent. Understanding Manas Buddhi Chitta Ahankara gives out a healthier way to regulate these impressions. Observing the four layers of the mind through yogic practices like mindfulness, disciplines, breathing, and meditation helps to avoid the wrongful impressions taking a dominant place in the mind. With practice and time, you find chitta is awake, mind is subdued, intellect is awake, and ego is annihilated.
Read also : 3 Best Patanjali Yoga Sutra For Wisdom & Motivation ( https://thebrightdelights.com/3-best-patanjali-yoga-sutra-for-wisdom-motivation/ )