Sunday, October 2, 2011

Samkhya - 05- Manas, Ahamkara, Mahatattva

Given that the Universe contains abstract sense-powers (indriya-s), corresponding elementary matter (tanmAtra) as well as the medium of inherence (mahAbhUta), how does the Universe know how to discriminate between Subject and Object, and where does this discrimination happen?

This requires the presence of a higher level of abstraction known as manas or the Cosmic Mind. This Mental Plane is where the discrimination happen - where the Universe variously assumes the form of object and subject.

This leads to another question, how does the Universe know that there is an "I" involved? Where does this "I-ness" come from?

This again requires an Individuating Principle, which is known as Ahamkara or the Individuating Plane.

How is this "I-ness" caused? How does the Universe know that there should be an "I"?
This requires the presence of a Cosmic Intelligence or mahAtattva (Great Principle).

Thus Mahat (Intelligence) leads to Ahamkara (I-ness) which leads to Manas (Cosmic Mind) who knows how to manifest itself as subject, object and interening medium.

No comments:

Post a Comment