Why is the mind considered a sense?
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Thank you. Why is the mind considered a sense? Yeah. Yes.
Indriyana Manas Chasmi it is said. Krishna says in the 10th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita that among the senses I am the mind. Basically, the word sense is used in different senses.
In the Bhagavad Gita. Normally, when we use the word sense, it is used to refer to the sensory organs like the eyes, the ears. Along with that, actually the subtle body also has senses.
So, for example, right now if we see each other or right now if you are hearing, what is happening? There is the physical organ ear. Then there is the subtle ear or subtle hearing faculty that is there in the mind. And then there is the soul.
So, when all three come in one line, then there is perception that happens. So, that’s why sometimes some sound may be going in our ears. But if the mind is thinking of something else, we don’t hear it.
What did you say? We ask again. So, all three have to come in line. So, when we say the mind is a sense, there the word sense is not used in the sense of a sensory organ.
It is used in the sense of a tool that is required for getting sensations. For becoming aware of things around us. So, in Shrotram chakshu sparshanam cha rasanam grhanam eva cha adhishthaya manasthayam vishayan upasevate.
Krishna says that in 15.9 in the Bhagavad Gita that the five senses are centered around the mind. And with the mind and senses, the soul functions in the body. Soul perceives sense objects.
So, that means that as a part of our mechanism for interacting with the world, getting information from the world and for functioning in the world, the senses and the mind are together as one apparatus. And among these, in this sensory apparatus, the mind is the central unit. All the five senses are centered around the mind.
Just like we have the five fingers, they are centered around the palm. Like that, the five senses are centered around the mind. Now, if my eye doesn’t see something, I won’t be able to see it.
But even if my eye sees something, if my mind is not there, I will not be able to perceive it. So, in that sense, in the process of perception, the mind is, in the process of even sensory perception, the mind is the central agent. That’s why the mind is not only considered a sense, the mind is considered to be the most important sense.
That’s why Krishna in the Vibhuti Yuga chapter says that among the senses, I am the mind. Does that answer your question, Madhuji? Thank you so much, Prabhuji.