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TEXT 42 indriyani parany ahur
SYNONYMS  indriyani--senses;
parani--superior;
ahuh--is said; indriyebhyah--more than the senses; param--superior;
manah--the mind; manasah--more than the mind; tu--also;
para--superior; buddhih--intelligence;
yah--one who;
buddheh--more than the intelligence; paratah--superior;
tu--but;
sah--he.
TRANSLATION The working
senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence
is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the
intelligence.
PURPORT The senses are
different outlets for the activities of lust. Lust is reserved within the
body, but it is given vent through the senses. Therefore, the senses are
superior to the body as a whole. These outlets are not in use when there
is superior consciousness, or Krsna consciousness. In Krsna consciousness
the soul makes direct connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
therefore the bodily functions, as described here, ultimately end in the
Supreme Soul. Bodily action means the functions of the senses, and stopping
the senses means stopping all bodily actions. But since the mind is active,
then, even though the body may be silent and at rest, the mind will act--as
it does during dreaming. But, above the mind there is the determination
of the intelligence, and above the intelligence is the soul proper. If,
therefore, the soul is directly engaged with the Supreme, naturally all
other subordinates, namely, the intelligence, mind and the senses, will
be automatically engaged. In the Katha Upanisad there is a passage
in which it is said that the objects of sense gratification are superior
to the senses, and mind is superior to the sense objects. If, therefore,
the mind is directly engaged in the service of the Lord constantly, then
there is no chance of the senses becoming engaged in other ways. This mental
attitude has already been explained. If the mind is engaged in the transcendental
service of the Lord, there is no chance of its being engaged in the lower
propensities. In the Katha Upanisad the soul has been described
as mahan, the great. Therefore the soul is above all--namely, the
sense objects, the senses, the mind and the intelligence. Therefore, directly
understanding the constitutional position of the soul is the solution of
the whole problem.
With intelligence
one has to seek out the constitutional position of the soul and then engage
the mind always in Krsna consciousness. That solves the whole problem.
A neophyte spiritualist is generally advised to keep aloof from the objects
of senses. One has to strengthen the mind by use of intelligence. If by
intelligence one engages one's mind in Krsna consciousness, by complete
surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then, automatically,
the mind becomes stronger, and even though the senses are very strong,
like serpents, they will be no more effective than serpents with broken
fangs. But even though the soul is the master of intelligence and mind,
and the senses also, still, unless it is strengthened by association with
Krsna in Krsna consciousness, there is every chance of falling down due
to the agitated mind.
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