The Higher Mind
16 November, 2011
In yoga the understanding of the mind is different to western phsycology. Yoga dividies the mind into the lower and higher mind. The lower mind is preoccupied by the sensory world and constant chatter, whilst the higher mind is linked to our intuition and higher knowledge.
An interesting way to view this is explained by Swami Niranjananda Saraswati; “So the shift is to move from the lower mind into higher mind, and that is the concept of Patanjali yoga – the management of the mind”. Furthermore “…after managing the mind, we identify with the higher mind” and “…we become established in our true nature”. Swami Niranjananda further explains it as “…the lower mind discusses people, the intermediate mind – the middle mind – discusses events, and the higher mind develops ideas and performs”. “The lower mind discusses people such as ‘I like that person’, ‘I don’t like that person’ – criticism. The lower mind always discusses a person, or an object. The intermediate mind is more objective, it discusses events. The higher mind developes ideas and performs, and that is what we see in the lives of great people.”
Swami Niranjanda Saraswiti – Satsang 7th April 2001, Rocklyn,Victoria.