The lower & higher intellect
by Atman Nityananda
The lower or rajasotamasic intellect
The ego-dominated lower intellect focuses on distinctions, separation, roles in society and personalities.
Therefore, it focuses on the characteristics of others that create separation and distinction, rather than those that unite. For example, instead of focusing on the fact that we are all creatures of the same life of one God, that we are all made of the same elements in different proportions and that we all have the same potential to evolve, it focuses on skin color, social or economic class, etc.
Fanaticism, dogmatism and racism, confrontation, conflicts and wars come from this intellect dominated by the lower ego that wants to dominate others and make them accept its ideas and ways.
The higher or sattvic intellect or intelligence
If we increase the sattva quality in the intellect (and in the mind in general) and live in conscious connection with the Self (Consciousness), it gradually develops all its sattvic abilities (discernment, detached observation, clarity, dispassion, correct understanding, etc.) and functions more and more in accordance with its nature (without the distortions caused by the lower ego and egoistic tendencies) and on its higher level. The intellect thus gradually becomes intelligence and an effective instrument for living consciously and eliminating selfish tendencies, for living in harmony with our divine nature and in harmony and unity with other beings, and for finally attaining liberation.
The division of the intellect (Buddhi) according to the three qualities in the Bhagavad Gita Ch. XVIII.
- The intellect (sattvic) that knows what is action (the path of action) and what is renunciation, what is right to do and what is wrong to do, what is fear and what is fearlessness, what is bondage and what is liberation, that intellect, O Arjuna, is Sattvic (sattva prevails in it).
- That intellect (rajasic) by which one does not understand what is Dharma (Righteousness) and what is Adharma (Unrighteousness, unrighteousness) and also what is to be done and what is not to be done, that intellect, O Arjuna, is Rajasic (i.e., Rajas prevails).
- That intellect (tamasic) which is shrouded in darkness, which perceives Adharma and Dharma* backwards (i.e. Righteousness as Unrighteousness and Unrighteousness as Righteousness), and all other things backwards (wrong as right and right as wrong or completely distorted), that intellect, O Arjuna, is called Tamasic (i.e. the quality of Tamas prevails in it).
Comments Atman
Sattva, rajas and tamas in the mind
Since sattva is the quality of purity and light, the more sattva prevails in the intellect (Buddhi), the higher the quality of its functioning and the more the sattvic capacities (clarity, concentration, serenity, discernment, devotion, detachment, etc.) will be developed. And as a result, we will live more consciously, in harmony, peace and happiness, and advance in our inner transformation.
The more the qualities of rajas and tamas prevail in the intellect, the weaker, impure and darker the intellect becomes. This intellect lacks the capacity for clear perception, correct understanding and discernment (discerning right from wrong, true from false). And worst of all, when it is clouded by tamas, it sees everything backwards, bad as good, beneficial as harmful and vice versa.
*Dharma and Adharma
What is in harmony with our nature, our Soul and the laws of life, and what is right and proper to do in every situation is Dharma. What is contrary to the above is Adharma.
Dharma also has the meaning of duty. Duty here means what our destiny has set us to do in this life. In Arjuna’s case, his destiny was to be Kshatriya (Warrior-King) and he was destined to fight a righteous war to regain his kingdom which was usurped by his cousins.
What is in harmony with our nature, our Soul and the laws of life, and what is right and proper to do in every situation is Dharma.
What is contrary to the above is Adharma.🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 