Buddhi

Buddhi (devanāgarī: बुद्धि) from the root budh (to be awake; to understand; to know) is a feminine Sanskrit noun derived from the same root as the masculine form buddha. In Hinduism it refers to the intellect, the faculty of discrimination. It is the aspect of the mind that knows, discriminates, judges, and decides. It is frequently regarded as the higher mind, which can determine the wiser of two courses of action if it functions clearly and if manas will accept its guidance. In Hinduism buddhi is one of the four parts that form the antahkarana (the "inner organ") the other three being manas (the mind), citta (the memory) and ahamkāra (the ego).

In Theosophy buddhi is not the mind (manas) but it can illumine it.<></ref>. Buddhi is the sixth principle in human beings, defined by H. P. Blavatsky as follows:

Buddhi is the mould of the “garments” of Atma, because Atma is no body, or shape, or anything, and because Buddhi is its vehicle only figuratively.

Esoterically, Buddhi reaches perception only through the Higher Manas,

Further reading

• Buddhi at Theosopedia