Manas: Difference between revisions
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=== Self-Consciousness === | === Self-Consciousness === | ||
While [[Ātman|atman]] has been defined as "conscious non-consciousness"<ref>Michael Gomes (transcriber), ''The Secret Doctrine Commentaries'' (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 609-10.</ref> and [[Buddhi|buddhi]] as "universal consciousness"<ref>Michael Gomes (transcriber), ''The Secret Doctrine Commentaries'' (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 610.</ref>, manas is "the principle of self-consciousness, the 'I-am-I'".<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. X (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 249.</ref> | |||
Because this principle is the origin of the sense of "I-ness", it is called the "[[Ego]]": | |||
<blockquote>Ego (Lat.) "I"; the consciousness in man of the "I am I," or the feeling of I-am-ship. [[Esoteric Philosophy|Esoteric philosophy]] teaches the existence of two Egos in man, the mortal or personal, and the higher, the divine or impersonal, calling the former [[Principle#Individuality and personality|"personality"]], and the latter [[Principle#Individuality and personality|"individuality"]].<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Theosophical Glossary'' (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), 6.</ref></blockquote> | |||
The meaning of the word "ego" in [[Theosophy]] is not restricted to the one modern psychology gives. It is used to refer to the sense of "I-ness", which can be expressed in a personal and selfish way (in the lower manas), as well as in a spiritual and impersonal form (in the higher manas). In connection to the later, [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] wrote: | |||
<blockquote>The human Ego is neither Ātma nor Buddhi, but the higher Manas: the intellectual fruition and the efflorescence of the intellectual self-conscious Egotism—in the higher spiritual sense.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. II, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 79.</ref></blockquote> | |||
=== The "fifth principle" in The Mahatma Letters === | === The "fifth principle" in The Mahatma Letters === | ||
Revision as of 18:52, 21 October 2013
Manas (devanāgarī: मनस्) is the Sanskrit word for "mind", from the root man, "to think". In Hinduism it is the recording faculty that receives impressions gathered by the sense from the outside world, coordinating sensory impressions before they are presented to the higher faculty of buddhi (the "intellect" in Hinduism). Manas is one of the four parts of the antahkarana (the "internal organ"), the other three parts being buddhi (the intellect), citta (the memory) and ahamkāra (the ego).
In Theosophy manas is the fifth principle in human beings. It was defined by H. P. Blavatsky as follows:
Manas (Sk.). Lit., “the mind”, the mental faculty which makes of man an intelligent and moral being, and distinguishes him from the mere animal; a synonym of Mahat. Esoterically, however, it means, when unqualified, the Higher EGO, or the sentient reincarnating Principle in man. When qualified it is called by Theosophists Buddhi-Manas or the Spiritual Soul in contradistinction to its human reflection—Kâma-Manas.[1]
General description
Self-Consciousness
While atman has been defined as "conscious non-consciousness"[2] and buddhi as "universal consciousness"[3], manas is "the principle of self-consciousness, the 'I-am-I'".[4]
Because this principle is the origin of the sense of "I-ness", it is called the "Ego":
Ego (Lat.) "I"; the consciousness in man of the "I am I," or the feeling of I-am-ship. Esoteric philosophy teaches the existence of two Egos in man, the mortal or personal, and the higher, the divine or impersonal, calling the former "personality", and the latter "individuality".[5]
The meaning of the word "ego" in Theosophy is not restricted to the one modern psychology gives. It is used to refer to the sense of "I-ness", which can be expressed in a personal and selfish way (in the lower manas), as well as in a spiritual and impersonal form (in the higher manas). In connection to the later, Mme. Blavatsky wrote:
The human Ego is neither Ātma nor Buddhi, but the higher Manas: the intellectual fruition and the efflorescence of the intellectual self-conscious Egotism—in the higher spiritual sense.[6]
The "fifth principle" in The Mahatma Letters
In The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, especially those before the publication of the Esoteric Buddhism, the phrase "fifth principle" often refers to the lower portion of manas rather than to the whole principle. This is because the Mahatmas were following Allan Octavian Hume's classification published in the the October 1881 issue of The Theosophist, where the author defines the fifth principle as "the animal or physical intelligence".
Higher manas
Also called Higher Ego (or simply the Ego), Reincarnating Ego, Inner Man,[7] Causal body,[8] Karana Sharira, Nous, or Inner Self;[9] it is frequently said to be working in conjuction with Buddhi as buddhi-manas.
Lower manas
Notes
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), 202.
- ↑ Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 609-10.
- ↑ Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 610.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. X (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1988), 249.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), 6.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. II, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 79.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), 156.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Key to Theosophy, (London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), 174.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Key to Theosophy, Section 10, (London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), ???.
Online resources
Articles
- Manas at Theosopedia
- Genius by H. P. Blavatsky
- Psychic and Noetic Action by H. P. Blavatsky
- The Extended Mind by Rupert Sheldrake
Audio
- A Mind to Embrace the Universe by Adam Warcup
Video
- The Extraordinary Nature of the Ordinary Mind by Joy Mills