Life is in the mind. Everything we know as life is inside the mind. The mind goes off, life goes off. This is what happens when we are in deep sleep. Only when we wake up, do we know life; if we don’t wake up, no life.
If one can understand one’s mind, one can easily understand the complexities of life. The situations that bother us, that create self-doubt, confusion, will be as clear as day if one understands the fundamentals of the mind.
My life coaching programs are of different levels. However, at every level, it is about creating a pattern in the mind. In some way, all life coaching and corporate leadership training programs focus on understanding the individual mind and the collective mind.
Many cultures and masters of the past have created different Darshan (Philosophy or way of looking at life). Gautam Buddha had all the luxuries one asks for, but he craved for reality and left everything to find something that he needed.
He explains there are four functions of the mind. If one understands these functions, one understands why one is suffering and how one can overcome one’s suffering. These are:
1) Vinyana:
In simple language, it can be considered as the sense organs. We have five senses and one mind. Here, the mind means manas, that is thought-counter thought faculty of the mind. In simple language, monkey mind.
All five senses are the doorsteps to our mind. Different senses are altogether different minds.
Depending on what input comes, the specific mind will activate. For example, a sound comes, hearing is activated. An odor enters our nose, smell is activated.
This function only recognizes what type of input has come and will activate that particular mind.
2) Sanyana:
Once the input is there, then this portion of the mind determines what quality of input it is. It recognizes whether it is pleasure or pain.
You smell your favorite dish, this function recognizes it is pleasure. You smell something awful, this function recognizes it is discomfort.
3) Vedana:
This is a sensation throughout the body. Every input gives a certain sensation. In deep meditation, this is what one observes.
As the Sanyana evaluates the quality, good or bad, this part gives a sensation. If good, the sensation passes throughout the body in the form of feel-good hormones; if bad, the sensation passes through the body in the form of stress hormones.
4) Sankhara:
In simple language, it can be called Karma. It is your actions, internal & external. All the above parts will not give fruit. But this part gives fruit. This part reacts to the input we get in our minds.
The quality of Sankhara determines fruit. Three types of sankhara:
- Line On Water:
Just like line on water, the moment the action is done, it is deleted.
- Line On Sand:
Just like line on sand, when the action is done, it’s impact stays for a while and after some time it fade’s away.
- Line On Rock:
Just like line on rock, when it is formed, it stays for very long. It takes a lot of effort to erase the impact of the action.
If you have read my book, Life The Way You Design, Part 1 The Designer, you would remember, I explain 4 functions of the mind, called as antahkarana chautasya. It is a different way of looking at the mind and life. In my leadership training programs I teach it, but here the concept is little different.
What Is It To Me?
Every problem we have in life, every goal we want to achieve in life, if we can understand this functioning, it becomes very easy.
One may think I have challenges at work because of so-and-so situation. One may think my life is a mess because of so-and-so person. But if you meditate on the reality you will find that it is your response to that situation that is causing all the friction.
I am not saying that it is your fault, I am saying it your responsibility and you have the power to change it. But first one needs to understand, how does it work.
If you can take charge of this internal and external response in different situations, you can change your external situations. The power is always in our hands.
The key here is to observe the first three functions of the mind and take charge of the fourth. Someone abuses you, you listen, you feel and you simple witness what happens on the inside.
You see something awful, you feel bad, and you simply witness what happens within the body. You smell something wonderful, it creates a craving, and you simply observe the sensations within the body.
This simple observation and witness mode will empower you with a lot of information and control over your actions.
As a holistic life coach, I work with people from USA, UK, Europe, Dubai. I always try to empower people to take charge of their minds. It helps you overcome any challenge related to work, health, or relationships. Because everything is in mind.
To know how you can take charge of mind and life, book your first complimentary session with me. Link is in home page.
NOTE: The content of this article is mainly from a video by SN Goenka, if you want the video, just mention in the comments.
