December 3, 2017
Buddhi YogaVedanta states that our mind consists of two functional parts: Manas, the objective mind and Buddhi the subjective mind. The sense organs bring to the objective mind various stimuli. The objective mind perceives these stimuli. If we have a good sense of smell, the objective mind will detect even a faint fragrance. The result of this perception is applied to the subjective mind that processes these inputs into thoughts, speech and action delivered to the external world by the various equipment or parts of the body.
The output of the subjective mind is not only based on the inputs from the objective mind, but also by Vasanas, or tendencies or impressions that we have. These tendencies are desires or ego-motivated inclinations. The Vasanas directly influence the output of the subjective mind. Thus, a visual input of an object can be processed by the subjective mind as something you want to possess or reject depending on the type of Vasanas. The visual input of a lighted cigar could be processed by the subjective mind to evoke a craving to smoke or something that should be avoided because it is injurious to health. Thus, the Vasanas are often depicted as a layer between the objective mind and the subjective mind. We accumulate various Vasanas throughout our life.
A subjective mind enveloped by a lot of Vasanas is considered “fragmented”. Until these Vasanas can be exhausted the objective mind and the subjective mind cannot be seamlessly integrated. This unification also called Yoga, meaning “to join”. Specifically, one may call this integration of the Buddhi and Manas as Buddhi Yoga. Thus, Buddhi Yoga is the exhaustion of Vasanas, or broadly referred to as the purification of the mind. Vedanta says that this exhaustion of the Vasanas is achieved by directing our efforts towards selfless activities, or engaging only in activities without selfish motives.
Adapted from Study of Swami Chinmayananda's Introduction to Bhagavad Gita
