PROOF FOR THE EXISTENCE OF MIND

What is the nature of the Atman or Brahman? It is Sat-Chit-Ananda. Atman is Vyapaka.

Then, what is it that limits the individual soulís vision? It is only mind. This fact proves the

existence of an internal instrument, the mind.

In the commentary on the Brihadaranyaka, Sri Sankara gives two proofs of the existence of

Manas.

One is that it is Manas which renders all knowledge through senses possible. It is called

Sarva Karma Vishaya Yoga. Sense-knowledge is the product of the connection between the mind

and the sensory organs. That is why there is no simultaneity of the knowledge of the impressions

received through the various sensory organs. People say, ìMy mind was elsewhere. I did not see

that.î The impossibility of this simultaneity of knowledge through various sensory organs is an

indication of the existence of the mind.

The soul is a constant factor. Between the Atman and the organs of senses, a connecting link

is necessary. We have to acknowledge the existence of an internal organ (Mind), through whose

attention and non-attention, perception takes place. If we do not admit the internal organ, there

would result either perpetual perception or perpetual non-perceptionóthe former when there is a

conjunction of Atman, the sense (Indriya) and the object (Vishaya), the three constituting the

instruments of perception. If, on the conjunction of these three causes, the effect did not follow,

there would take place perpetual non-perception. But, neither is the case. We have, therefore, to

acknowledge the existence of an internal organ on whose attention (Avadhana) and non-attention

(Anavadhana) perception and non-perception take place. This is the argument for the existence of

Antahkarana or mind.

The other proof is the capacity for judgment which we possess. Somebody whom we

cannot see touches us; and, we infer the person. Now, mere touch cannot make us aware of this fact.

The faculty by which we make such an inference is Manas.