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'''Antaḥkaraṇa''' is a Sanskrit term used in Theosophy with a special meaning that differs from the one present in the Hindu philosophy. In the latter, the antaḥkaraṇa refers to the mind and its faculties. In Theosophy, it is the link between the lower and the higher mind. | |||
==In Theosophical literature== | |||
In his ''Occult Glossary'', [[Gottfried de Purucker]] described antaḥkaraṇa in this way: | In his ''Occult Glossary'', [[Gottfried de Purucker]] described antaḥkaraṇa in this way: | ||
Revision as of 20:42, 2 February 2012
Antaḥkaraṇa is a Sanskrit term used in Theosophy with a special meaning that differs from the one present in the Hindu philosophy. In the latter, the antaḥkaraṇa refers to the mind and its faculties. In Theosophy, it is the link between the lower and the higher mind.
In Theosophical literature
In his Occult Glossary, Gottfried de Purucker described antaḥkaraṇa in this way:
Antaskaraṇa (Sanskrit) Perhaps better spelled as antaḥkaraṇa. A compound word: antar, "interior," "within"; karaṇa, sense organ. Occultists explain this word as the bridge between the higher and lower manas or between the spiritual ego and personal soul of man. Such is H. P. Blavatsky's definition. As a matter of fact there are several antaḥkaraṇas in the human septenary constitution - one for every path or bridge between any two of the several monadic centers in man. Man is a microcosm, and therefore a unified composite, a unity in diversity; and the antaḥkaraṇas are the links of vibrating consiousness-substance uniting these various centers.[1]
mind, namely buddhi (intellect, a.k.a. anandamaya kosa or karanopadhi) or higher mind, and manas (vijnanamaya kosa,) the middle level or levels of mind that according to Theosophy exist as or include the mental body. Antahkarana is called the link between the middle and higher mind, and is described as the reincarnating part of the mind.
In Hinduism
In Hindu philosophy, the antahkarana (Skt., often translated as the "internal organ") refers to the psychological apparatus of the individual. In the Vedāntic literature, the antahkaraṇa is organised into four parts:
- Ahamkāra (ego) — the origin to the psychological 'I' associated to the body and its senses.
- Buddhi (intellect) — the principle that is able to discern truth from falsehood and thereby to make wisdom possible.
- Manas (mind) — the faculty of doubt and volition; the lower or instinctive mind, seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs.
- Citta (memory) — the part that deals with remembering and forgetting
Notes
<<references>>
- ↑ Gottfried de Purucker, Occult Glossary (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 1996), 5.