Does the subconscious mind help us to do whatever we think repeatedly with our conscious mind?
I have heard from outside sources that a subconscious mind gets influenced by what is there in the conscious mind.
So, if our conscious mind is positive, it is 10% of the mind. But then that positive thought gets percolated in the subconscious mind and then that 90% of the subconscious mind also helps us to do the positive thing. And if we think negative, then that also affects.
So, how is this to be seen from the perspective of the Bhagavad Gita? Broadly, we understand from the Gita and the Bhagavatam that the mind has impressions. So, now the impressions, they are not necessarily stored, they are not at the level of our conscious awareness. Just like in a computer, I may be seeing something on a monitor, but the computer will be containing thousands of times more data than what is being displayed on the monitor presently.
The same way, what is there in our conscious awareness, that is only a small fraction of what is there below the conscious awareness. So, in that sense, the concept of a subconscious mind, in our tradition, there may not be a categorical division in terms of there is a conscious mind and a subconscious mind. But the categorical division is largely a part of nomenclature.
But if you consider concept, concept that there are impressions in the mind, and those impressions shape our behavior, that is the whole basis of Sabhava. So, appreciating the role of the impressions within us and then trying to change those impressions, that is what Bhakti is all about. In Bhakti, we can, by exposing ourselves to Krishna, we change the past impressions.
So, the principle of impressions has broad implications. The Vedic tradition analyzes in terms of, say, Varanashram and the Sabhava Brahman Kshatriya Vaisheshudhara. But within that also, we see that there are varieties.
There are some people who are more outgoing and social. There are some people who are more introvert and they like seclusion. We have some sages like that.
We have some people of different natures. We see that the five pandas also are of different natures. And they are all Kshatriyas.
But as Kshatriyas also, there is variety in their character. So, definitely, and where is this variety coming from? They are transcendental. It is simply they are present in this world in a particular body.
So, we could infer from their example, even if it doesn't exactly apply to them because they are transcendental. But we can apply, infer that there is variety which comes from individuality. And the individuality in a conditioned stage is not necessarily spiritual.
It comes from the mind also. So, now, specifically with respect to the self-help conception that if we think in a particular way repeatedly while we are conscious, then that will get percolated in the subconscious. That is simply a matter of impressions.
So, that our attitudes affect our actions. That is something which is just a universal fact of life. And I have not seen anything in the Vedic scriptures which goes against that.
Scriptures do talk about when somebody is dejected, when Arjuna is dejected, Krishna restores his spirit. So, in that sense, the idea of changing our inner thoughts is given a lot of importance. Of course, the changing of inner thoughts is talked about more in terms of spiritualization of consciousness.
But the fact is that changing our inner thoughts does affect us. So, for example, if we regularly remember Krishna, then what happens is that if there is a certain danger, then even without thinking we will call out Krishna. But that call to Krishna has not come from the conscious mind.
It did not come by conscious intention. So, when we repeatedly call out Krishna with conscious intention, then in danger we will call out to Krishna by subconscious inclination. Like a flower is inclined, water flows in a particular way.
So, repeatedly doing a particular thing causes the mental flower to be inclined towards that. And we do that. So, this is how a person becomes addicted to a particular activity.
They drink once, twice, thrice, four times. And then afterward that becomes almost like a compulsion or addiction. In the same way, that applies to the positive things also.
If we do the things repeatedly, we decide to wake up in the morning every day, and then naturally our body gets programmed to sleep early and wake up early. So, I would say that same principle can apply to attitudes also. If during the conscious thoughts, during the day, we are thinking in a particular way, then that will percolate in and then we will get ideas.
So, at a deeper level, whatever has percolated within us, the impression, the inclination happens in that way. Then naturally our thoughts will go in that direction. Our ideas will come, inspiration will come.
We will be able to make connections. So, the concept of by conscious cultivation of a particular way of thinking or a particular thought, that there is subconscious inclination towards that thought, that is, I would say, fairly reasonable agreement with the idea of modern role of the subconscious mind. Where I would say the two differ is that sometimes some people talk about the power of conscious mind, they go overboard and they say that just by thinking in a particular way, you can achieve anything and everything.
So, basically then they are making the subconscious mind into God. That is not true. Even if no matter how much I think that I will not grow old, I will not grow old, the body is going to age.
Now, of course, if I am always thinking I am going old, I am growing old, I am growing old, then that kind of negative thinking may trigger unhealthy biological response. So, somebody feels old, somebody feels neglected, somebody feels unworthy, lonely, and then that may affect their health also. But it is not that just by having a positive, cheerful attitude, one can completely stave off all effects of old age.
So, that the mind affects the body and the world, our actions in the world, that is an accepted fact. But that the mind can entirely change the reality, that is not a defensible fact. So, old age is a fact of life.
And because of old age, there is going to be some weakening of bodily function. That is also a fact of life. But that fact can be minimized or it can be aggravated by the disposition that we cultivate.
And that is where our conscious thought process and subconscious inclination,.