What is the difference between the mind and the brain?
From: sudindra What is the difference between Manasu(mind) and Brain as per the vedic texts?
People talk of keeping the mind blank. and only allowing the brain to function.Is such a thing possible? What is the vedantas reply to this question please.
Transcript
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Question from Sudhindra Prabhu. What is the difference between manas, mind and brain as per the Vedic texts? People talk of keeping the mind blank and only allowing the brain to function.
Is such a thing possible? What is the Vedanta’s reply? Answer, in the Bhagavad Gita as well as the Vedanta Sutra, the mind is described as a subtle material energy, which acts as a link between the soul and the gross material body. The brain is a part of the material body. It is made of gross material elements.
So it has actually substantially huge difference from the mind. The mind is the root from which the consciousness of the soul comes to the body. And then the agency through which the consciousness spreads into the body and then is received from the body is according to modern science the brain.
So is it possible to keep the mind blank and allow only the brain to function? Not exactly. The mind is the agency through which the brain is functioning. The brain itself is dead matter and the soul is the source of consciousness.
But the mind is the root through which the consciousness of the soul comes to the brain and to the body. So if the mind is blank, then the brain will have no energy with which to be conscious. What we can do is not make the mind blank, but make the mind focused.
So when we focus the energy of the mind, then we can visualize consciousness as the beam of light coming from a torch. The 13th chapter of Krishna describes how the Atma is like the sun and the Chetana is like the sun rays. So extending the same example, we consider the Atma to be like the torch and the Chetana, the consciousness to be like the beams of light coming from it.
Then the more we focus the beam of light, the more clear will be the illumination and the object on which we are focused. And the more we let the rays of light dissipate, the less clear will be the illumination. So like that, when we concentrate the mind, then the consciousness that is coming through the soul, through the mind, to the brain and to the external world will be focused.
Otherwise it will be dis-focused, distracted. And then we will not be able to observe or grasp or assimilate or analyze or do any of the mental or intellectual functions that we want to do. So as devotees, when we practice Krishna consciousness, we train our mind by fixing it on Krishna.
And as we train and discipline the mind by regularly fixing it on Krishna, this disciplining carries on to other aspects of our life gradually. And we are able to become focused in all activities of our life. That is the recommended way to best utilize the mind-brain complex in our lives.
Thank you.