In plain words
The form in which these three are blended is the Ātma. So the Ātma means the very form in which these three, Manas, Buddhi and …, are blended. So we must believe that Manas is the Ātma's power of resolve. While it remains the Ātma's power of resolve, if it thinks, 'I am the Ātma's … power', it follows the right path. But Manas, grown up amid certain worldly …, wishes and desires, forgets this Manas. It forgets the matter: 'I came from …'. It steps in with Ahaṅkāra, thinking, 'I alone am the all-powerful.' It forgets the master. That is just when it becomes the cause of bondage. When it goes forward keeping the Master in view, it takes shape as the cause of Mokṣa. At times it comes to a … kind of decision. Decisions come, but they do not come into practice.
Once upon a time there were some deer, you see, and they held a big conference in the forest. What was the agenda at this conference? One deer after another stood up, the story goes, and they were telling over all the powers they had. Look at our legs: they are very slender. We can run very fast. Not only can we run, we can jump as far as we like. No one at all can catch us. That much power is in us. With all this power, why should we be afraid when we see dogs? All of them, every one, discuss … on this subject. Yes, yes, what this deer has said is the truth. We have every power; give one kick with a single leg and the guts in a man will spill out in a heap; that power is in our legs. Nothing else has our …. Let anyone come to catch us: they cannot. However hard they try, there is no one who can catch us. A dog has the power to bark. Go to catch them and they are easily caught. Throw it some piece of meat and it is easily won over. Toss it a piece of jaggery and it is won over. But we are not won over like that. Let it see a man anywhere, and off we run. It is not fear; it is so as not to be caught by them. We are sāttvic at heart. For us, always, grass, a fruit or some other fruit, things like these: to eat them is our nature. But in no way at all do we have in us the trait of hurting a living being, hurting a creature, hurting a creature, and eating it. Purely sāttvic creatures are we. Why should such as we be afraid of all these petty, paltry dogs? On this matter we must all take a decision. Saying 'Yes, yes', they all raise their hands. They voted. At that conference they resolved that from tomorrow we should not be afraid of dogs.