<<Sometimes we contemplate that outer phenomena –that is, trees, houses, and mountains- are not real, but are like appearances in a dream. We also contemplate that the inner phenomena of our mind, which perceives all other phenomena, is also not real>>.

Thrangu Rinpoche

<<The true nature of the mind is bliss, and when the mind is stilled, bliss absolute is revealed>>.

Avadhuta Gita

What is mind? Despite so many years and efforts spent investigating this matter nobody could prove unmistakably what and where is the mind. Nobody can assert: “I have found the mind! Here it is!!” The mind has neither a particular place nor a specific color nor other particular characteristics. We know, for example, about the heart where it is located, which are its functions, what is its shape, etc. we cannot say the same thing about the mind. Nevertheless everybody experience the mind and its presence. The deeper we go into the mental phenomena the more we realize that the mind rather than a distinct entity is an “event”, an “occurrence”, continuously evolving. Scientists, philosophers and mystics seem to agree on these two points:

1) The mind is what distinguishes animated beings from inanimate beings.

2) The mind is the most important part of animated beings.

Someone think that the mind is the brain. But the brain itself is nor one single organ. We have:

1) BRAIN STEM or REPTILIAN BRAIN: it rules over the involuntary and basics functions (heartbeat, breathing, metabolism, etc…). It rules over the automatics reactions as well (anger for example; someone insult me: the heartbeat quicken, an adrenalin rush is released in the blood stream, muscles become tense…ready to fight or to flee).

2) LIMBIC REGION: it surrounds the brain stem like a helmet. It is a more evolved part of the brain compared to the brain stem (from reptilian to mammalian). It is in here that we find a larger and more complex number of emotions than simply fight or flight. For this reason it is called emotional brain.

3) NEOCORTEX: here we found higher capacities of reasoning, of creating concepts, planning and imagination. Here we can create, manipulate and grasp symbols. The capacity of art, music, language, writing, mathematics, depends upon the Neocortex. Rationality, analysis, judgment, control over impulses, learning from previous experiences, these all depends on this part of the brain.

EO CORTEX

What is coordinating all these activities of the brain? What and how all these functions are hold together? The science seems to have no answer to these questions. While there is ample evidence of mental activity, no scientist has been able to confirm the existence of the mind itself. The science deals with phenomena, with things and objects, but the mind itself is not a thing. We can deal in this scientific-objective way only with the effects of the mental activity but not with the mind itself. Because the mind itself is not an object; it is an empty space where different thoughts, perceptions, emotions, dreams, imaginations, etc..., appears, and stays for a while and than disappears.

Now, look at these two examples:

1) Someone insult me. Anger is produced in me and many involuntary reactions happen in my body (heartbeat quickens, adrenalin rush in the blood stream, muscles grow tense, etc…). We are completely under the influence of the reptilian brain and react with fight or flight. We are lost in a chain of mechanical reactions. The biological body machine is in charge.

2) Someone insult me. Anger is produced in me and many involuntary reactions happen in my body (heartbeat quickens, adrenalin rush in the blood stream, muscles grow tense, etc…). I stop and give the opportunity to the Limbic region of the brain to produce different emotional responses to that stimulus: love, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, self control. Than we try to elaborate (Neocortex) different strategies. We try to talk, discuss, control our reactions and find different solutions rather than fight or flight.

In the first case everything happens by itself according the biological primitive instinct of survival. Nothing is coordinating the functions of the brain. Actually only the lower function is at work!

In the second case there is something in charge, there is will and a conscious effort to go beyond the natural laws of survival. Here we have something that is in charge of the situation.

Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher (Athens, 428/427 B.C. –348/347 B.C.), in his Phaedrus (246 a-249 d) tells the allegory of the chariot. Basically, the chariot allegory describes a chariot, driven by a charioteer, and powered by two horses: a noble white horse and an ignoble dark one. It occurs in the context of an allegory in which the chariot attempts to rise beyond the heavens, there to behold divine visions, but often doesn't succeed, instead falling to earth. Let us try to see what this allegory represents:

The chariot is our body.

The black horse represents our lower emotions and instincts (see reptilian brain).

The white noble horse represents our higher emotions (see limbic region).

The reins are our higher mental, intellectual, faculties. The capacity of discriminate between yes or not, good or bad.

The charioteer is the “I”. Now

Plato is telling us that if we want our chariot rising towards the heavenly regions we have to maintain the correct hierarchy between the different elements of the chariot. Especially if we are driven by the black horse much disorder and confusion will follow and we will fall down to the lowest regions of the earth. If the charioteer is sleeping, or is absent, or is drunk, the horses will start to fight each other. They will tear the reins and eventually break the chariot itself. The chariot also needs to be in a proper condition otherwise it will take us nowhere. All these conditions need to meet together in order to direct the chariot towards the right destination. Plato tells to us that the best destination possible for the human beings is the Hyperuranium (the word beyond the sky): the heaven, a place of perfect bliss.

Now, we have to understand one thing: the haven is not a special place far away from us. But how it is said in the Avadhoota Gita quoted at the beginning: <<The true nature of the mind is bliss, and when the mind is stilled, bliss absolute is revealed>>. We have to purify our mind in order to perceive reality in a

pure way without mistaking the pure mind (the mind in itself) with its constantly changing contents. The major cause of impurity is ignorance and the principal source of purity is knowledge. But purity and impurity, or better ignorance and knowledge, are just qualities of our minds. If our mind is confused and undisciplined it will perceive impurity all around. In such a way, mislead led by ignorance we will create more and more confusion in a never ending circle: it is the power of samsara, of illusion. Ignorance is to mistake the mind in itself with the effects of the mental activity (thoughts, perceptions, and so on). On the opposite if our mind is disciplined and well directed it will be purified from illusions and gain knowledge conducting us out of the endless sorrow of samsara.

So, first we have to gradually purify our mind establishing the right hierarchy between the different functions of our mind. This requires efforts and self discipline. When the right order of the functions of our mind is established in us than it becomes possible that our charioteer can lead us to experience the bliss of the pure mind (the heaven) and the real nature of the phenomena waking up from the sleep of ignorance. As it has been quoted from Thrangu Rinpoche above: <<Sometimes we contemplate that outer phenomena –that is, trees, houses, and mountains- are not real, but are like appearances in a dream. We also contemplate that the inner phenomena of our mind, which perceives all other phenomena, is also not real>>.

As it is written in the Yoga Vasishta:

<<O Rama, the mind is the hub around which this vicious cycle revolves, creating delusion in the minds of the deluded. It is by firmly restraining that hub though intense self-effort and keen intelligence that the whole wheel is brought to a standstill. When the hub’s motion is stopped, the wheel does not revolve: when the mind is stilled, illusion ceases. One who does not know this trick and does not practice it, undergoes endless sorrow. The moment the truth is seen, behold! The sorrow comes to an end.>>

<<The disease of perception of this world-illusion is not cured except through the mastery of the mind which is its only remedy. Hence, o Rama, abandon all other activities like pilgrimage, gifts and austerities, and bring the mind under your control for your ultimate good. This world-appearance abides in the mind, even as there is space within the pot; if the pot is broken, the illusory division of space vanishes; and if the mind ceases to be, the concept of a world within the mind also ceases to be. Even as an insect trapped within the pot attains freedom of movement when the pot is broken, you will also enjoy freedom when the mind ceases to be, along with the world-illusion contained in it.>>

Live in the present, with your consciousness externalized momentarily but without any effort: when the mind stops linking itself to the past and to the future it becomes no-mind. If from moment to moment your mind dwells in what is and drops it effortlessly at once, the mind becomes no-mind, full of purity. It is only as long as the mind continues to be agitated that it experiences the diversity of its own projection and expansion, even as rain falls only as long as there are clouds. And, it is only as long as the infinite

consciousness limits itself into the finite mind, that such agitation and expansion take place. If consciousness ceases to be finite mind, than know that the very roots of cyclic world-illusion (of birth and death) are burnt, and there is perfection. >> (V-50)

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