Buddhi Yoga

May 1979, Summer Course 1979, Brindavan

Published English.

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The tree of (nature) falls and the branches of desires wither away only when the mind, the root, is destroyed.

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Embodiments of the Divine !

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In big factories, the workers in all cadres discharge their duties properly by obeying the instructions of their immediate superior officers. Such a process is conducive to the efficient running of the organisation. Elaborating on this theme while dealing with and , the addressed and said, “The senses control the body and the mind controls the senses. The mind, in turn, is controlled by the intellect. Being closest to the , (intellect) best reflects the attributes of the . The influence of the directly falls upon the and therefore, the functions as the presiding faculty in man.” The mind generates (thought), which is checked and allowed to remain by the intelligence in every human being, the intelligence alone has the power to make decisions and to discriminate between good and bad. Individuals, often, get upset and troubled by the desires that arise in their minds. However, if they follow the dictates of their intelligence, their minds get lulled into submission and their actions result in happiness. Here is a small illustration.

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In this gathering, there may be a person who thinks, “’s discourse may go on for another half an hour. If I catch a bus after the discourse is over, I might miss the second show of a movie. So it may be better to get up now and go.” This is the prompting of the mind. But then, the intellect comes on the scene and counsels. “No, no. Don’t leave. An opportunity to listen to ’s discourse dealing with profound truths relating to the and the spiritual life will not come to you again - it is a rare blessing and should not be squandered away. Stay on and listen to .” The mind, then, follows the decision of the intellect. It must be so if life’s purpose is to be fulfilled.

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is directly influenced by the . Therefore, if the mind follows the , it will be able to lead the senses along the right path. So, advised not to follow the mind, which, left to itself, is prone to succumbing to the pulls of sensory pleasures, but instead, to subjugate it to the intellect.

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For going about in a chariot, it is the charioteer who has the most important role to play. Neither the horses that draw the chariot nor even the owner who is seated therein is competent to ensure a safe journey. It is the charioteer alone who can do it. If he is not accomplished, the horses will run berserk and drag the chariot hither and thither. Therefore, the charioteer must be competent enough and experienced to do his job properly. said, “! Your body is a chariot and your senses are the horses; your mind acts as the reins and your intellect is the driver. If you let your intellect guide your life’s journey, you will reach your ultimate destination safely.” emerged victorious in the battle because his charioteer was , the source of all intellect. To install as our charioteer is the most sacred and felicitous means by which we can attain the goal of life. If, however, we have an inept person as the charioteer (as ’s charioteer was), we will get discouraged every minute of our lives and eventually lose the battle we wage against our inner foes.

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It is only when the mind follows the that inner vision is developed. Inner vision leads to the experience of the Bliss of the . External vision, however, subjects man to untold suffering.

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told that in this world of objects which we see with our external vision, we perceive two qualities, namely “” (destructibility) and “” (presence of sorrow). This can be explained by an example. We see a child growing into a man and are happy that he is developing physically, failing to note, however, that the life-span of the child is simultaneously getting reduced. This gradual ebbing out of the life within man as he keeps growing is attributable to “”. Similarly, we see a bud blossoming into a flower and enjoy its fragrance without recognising the fact that in a few hours the flower will fade away. So also, the food that we cook today may be delicious and wholesome if eaten today, but if it is kept for the morrow, it would decompose or go stale. The fruit we eat today may be fresh, sweet, and delightful to the palate, but the very next day, it will become waste matter and will be looked upon with disgust.

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said to , “The joy which you seek and the self-realisation which you aim at, are both within you. They cannot be found in the external world. You are as foolish as a person who begs for food on the street even though there are sweets and other delicate dishes in his own home. You think that this world and its objects confer happiness on you. This is an illusion created by your mind. It is only when you follow the intelligence that you will be able to enjoy ”.

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We eat different sweets made of different kinds of flour. Sweetness, however, comes from the sugar and not from the flour. Yet, we say that the or the is sweet. In the same manner, although the sweet beatitude of the is within us, we erroneously attribute the sweetness to the fleeting objects found in the world. (man) must pursue the path that takes him to (God). We must aim at becoming (Lord ) but should not revert to the life of an animal (). One who follows his intelligence can become , while one who follows his mind becomes a . It is natural for the mind to prompt and provoke, but we must not translate them into action hastily. We should discriminate with our intellect and implement its dictates.

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The intellect is described as the embodiment of God. says in the that He is the intellect inherent in all men. In daily life, when someone commits a mistake, we scold him as one devoid of intellect. When we come across a good man, we remark, “He is one having intellect.” (intellect) develops the divine Nature, which is within us. Therefore, it is necessary for man to follow the intellect which offers permanent, supreme delight and which continues from birth to birth, displaying divine attributes. The mind is destructible, but the intellect cannot be destroyed. The intellect guides and leads man to the . We should follow the intellect which seeks the eternal delight of the , and not the mind which hankers after the pleasures of the senses.

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In general, people of this age follow the mind and only a very rare person follows the intellect. Therefore, , foreseeing the trends of the , desired to teach to all mankind through . I hope that everyone will follow the sacred and inspiring words of to .