a
The existence of oneself as a conscious entity is self evident. The question is ―is the
mind itself the conscious self or is there a conscious principle other than the mind?
Am I the mind or am I the other conscious principle?‖ To find out whether I am the
mind, I should apply the same test as applied earlier in regard to the body etc. That
is, do I experience my mind? The mind is an entity that expresses as thoughts in
the form of cognition of external objects, emotion, reasoning, decision, speculation,
imagination recollection and conceptualization. ―I know the pot is a thought‖
(Thought is called ̳vritti‘ in Sanskrit.) ―I am angry at my son‖ is a thought. ―I had
ice cream yesterday‖ is a thought. ―Black hole is a mystery‖ is a thought. Am I
aware of my thoughts? The answer is ―yes; I am aware of my thoughts‖. Not only
that, I am aware of the I that is engaged in the thoughts in the form of cognitions of
objects, emotions, reasoning, decision-making and conceptualization. When I
perceive a tree, I am aware that I perceive the tree. When I entertain a desire for,
say, ice cream, I am aware that I desire to have ice cream. When I get angry, I am
aware that I am angry. When I have an idea for designing a new computer soft ware
product, I am aware that I have that idea. When solving a mathematical equation, I
am aware that I am solving it. If I have learnt Chinese, I am aware that I know
Chinese. When I recall anything I am aware that I am recollecting it.
a
The cycle of action and thought, punya and papa and births and deaths is
beginningless. This cycle is called, ―samsaara‖. (A single word for punya and papa
is ―karma‖). It is one‘s own punya papa alone that determines the enjoyment and
suffering (karmaphalam) in our lives.
A
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