The Nature of The Mind – Charak Samhita

Charak Samhita, the foundation of Ayurveda, explains the division of constituent factors. A person is known to possess 24 entities such as mind, 10 sense organs, 5 sense objects, and prakrti (matter) consisting of 8 entities (Ayakta, mahat, ahankara and 5 tanmatras). And in this there is description of the nature and actions of the mind.

The nature of the mind is defined as: the entity which, even on contact with self, sense organs and sense objects, is responsible for production or otherwise of knowledge by it’s attending or non-attending respectively. Subtleness and oneness are known as 2 qualities of mind.

While the actions of the mind are: The object of thinking, analysing, reasoning, meditating, determination and whatever, is to be perceived by mind is its object. Action of mind consists of : control over senses, self-restraint, reasoning, analysing. Beyond that is the jurisdiction of Buddhi (intellect).

We have specifically covered the verse which covers the nature of the mind.

Charak Samhita ShariraSthana 1.18
लक्षणम् मनस: ज्ञानस्य अभाव: भाव एव वा।
सति हि आत्म इन्द्रियार्थानां सन्निकर्षेण एव वर्तते॥

lakṣaṇam manasa: jñānasya abhāva: bhāva eva vā।
sati hi ātma indriyārthānāṃ sannikarṣeṇa eva vartate॥

Mind is defined as: the entity which , even on contact with self, sense organs and sense objects, is responsible for production or otherwise of knowledge by it’s attending or non-attending respectively. Subtleness and oneness are known as 2 qualities of mind.

मन का लक्षण – ज्ञान का न होना और होना मन का लक्षण है। क्योंकि आत्मा और इन्द्रिय का विषय के साथ सन्निकर्ष होने पर भी अगर मन का योग नही होता तोह ज्ञान नहीं आता। मन का योग होने पर ही ज्ञान होत है॥

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