I perceive the outside world
through my five senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting. I would
not perceive any outside world, if all five senses were to be blocked.
Let’s now examine how I
perceive the world through my senses.
My eyes receive reflected
light waves from an object in the outside world. This light wave is converted
into electrical impulses by the eyes and then passed to the brain through
neurons. The brain processes these electrical impulses and, through a series of
mysterious processes, I claim that I am seeing the object. But, I am seeing
this object inside my own mind, not in the outside world.
Similarly, all sense
organs receive their input from the outside world and help me perceive the outside
objects in my own mind. Indeed, I can’t perceive anything beyond my own mind.
Now, let’s examine the
mind itself.
Mind is not the brain. It
is a subtle aspect of our personality and it can’t be traced in any specific
location of our physical anatomy. Mind is the subtle medium in which all
thoughts and emotions arise and undergo endless transformations, while
preserving all the memories. Some thoughts take the role of discriminating
intellect, while some other thoughts turn into desires. Still some other
thoughts take on the task of contemplating. Some thoughts make us believe that
we are individuals, separate from others, thus giving rise to ‘ego’ in us. When
all thoughts are quietened, we refer to a quiet mind and experience peace &
serenity. In short, mind is our inner personality, while body is the external
one.
I am conscious (aware) of
my mind, just as I am conscious of my body. Both are objects of my awareness,
just like any worldly objects. I possess them, but quite separate from them. I am
conscious of my perceptions, thoughts and emotions happening in my mind. Therefore, the mind
is within my consciousness.
Since I perceive the whole outside world in my own
mind, all is within my consciousness. Indeed, my consciousness pervades the
whole universe for me.
