Prabhata Rashmi

15 July 2008

Hari Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru!

I have been speaking so much about the mind – the potential of the mind and the possibilities
which the mind holds before us. Then, this is by way of information and enlightenment, and
secondly the manner in which this mind of immense potential and possibilities has to be
accessed, …., and handled. And, when handled, what will be the benefit for our day to day
living, activities and interactions.

I have been speaking them alright, but I am wondering how you take to this exposition,
reflect upon it and make the resultant knowledge your own possession, your own truth and
your own treasure.

Today I thought of emphasizing one important point – what is that?

When ever you speak of the mind you always think of the functional mind. The mind in a
state of function, means what? You are so much concerned about the thoughts of the mind,
the resulting emotions, feelings, then the different types of memories the mind produces, all
those come under functions.

I would like you to take a look at then mind in a different manner.

Whenever there is a function, that function can only be possible with reference to a substance
or an entity.

You find a movement in the light leaves of a branch of a tree. What is it that you are finding?
You are finding a movement. The question necessarily arises, what movement? What moved?
The leaves of a branch of a tree are moving. Without there being the entity thing or substance
called the leaf, that movement cannot be there.

Apply the same principle to your mind. Unless there is a substance, or a thing or an entity
called the mind, it cannot function.

While you are concerned about the functions and the activities of the mind, and the problems
it generates, you are not going into the thing which brings about these functions. This is
where there is a lot of difference and distinction in the seeker’s approach and understanding.
At least from today onwards for quite a substantial measure of time I would like you to think
of the mind as a substance. That is why I use the word mind-substance, mind-substance,
mind-substance.

Now, all the qualities, character, and potentials I am speaking about are of the mind
substance.
There is a substance called the mind4.31 which functions in the form of thoughts, feelings,
emotions, memories and the like. That ‘substance mind’ has to be understood.

Now, what is that substance? That substance – we generally know of only substances like
solid substances, fluid substances, gaseous substances, different forms of energy, and
ultimately the unintelligible space. These are the substances we know of, panchabhootas.
Now all these substances are external in nature and they are perceptible to the senses.

Mind is not included in any one of these. It is also not an external entity.

This distinction of the mind should be understood. Though it is internal, it nevertheless

exists.5.36 It is that internally existing mind or mind substance that does all the functions like
thoughts, feelings, etcetera.

Unless your ‘understanding’ your intelligence becomes subtle, becomes sharp, becomes
perceptive, to grasp that there is substance which animates the body, activates the body,
which brings about thoughtfulness, thoughts, feelings, emotions, knowledge, doubt, memory,
idea, unless you are able to think of it as a substance, I don’t think you can have any progress.

And in reality it is this mind substance that goes by the name, the Soul, or the Self, and also
God or Almighty.

That you are not able to think of it and understand it, is no wonder, because if you understand
it, you will have understood the Supreme Self, the great Almighty also.

But nevertheless, you should understand that there is a presence that animates your body,
activates your body. That presence is the mind substance.

Now all that I am telling you about – let the mind produce thoughts, what of it to you? The
mind is not affected, the water flows, it falls, it creates a lot of commotion, it splashes in great
waterfalls, it rises in the form of vapour, comes down in the form of vapour (water?), rains,
there are very dense and dark clouds which are capable of obstructing even the great sun’s
rays, there it is dark. Sometimes it is yellow, sometimes it is blue, sometimes it is white – in
spite of all these water is water. All these are functions, functional outcomes which the water
as a substance has the power to bring about.

Similarly, the mind substance has got the power to bring about thoughts, feelings, emotions
etc.

When we are getting afflicted by, agitated by the functions of the mind, I want you to think of
the substance called the mind, an understanding of which will take away your agitations. The
more and more you focus – Oh! the mind thought – therefore what? –nothing has happened to
it – has anything happened to my body? – no – my body, nothing has happened to it – my
mind, nothing has happened to it, then why is it that you are afflicted and tormented? – for
what reason, no reason! It’s a sheer delusion! It’s a sheer illusion! It’s a sheer foolishness!

So, focus on the mind-substance as different from the mind-functions! The functioning is
possible only when a functioning substance is there. Walking is possible only when the legs
are there. And the legs are not walking! Walking is only a function the legs do! They do other
functions also. So, apart from the walking, an action or a movement, there is a substance
called leg. In the same manner, we have something like a mind-substance and the entire
spiritual Saadhana is to – what shall I say - sharpen your mind, purify your understanding,
make it more and more subtle, until at last you are able to perceive very clearly the mind-
substance which animates and activates the body.

Harih Om Tat Sat! Jai Guru!

Transcribed by _prabhakaran/ashram pc. On 01-09-2008