Untitled - the Divine Life Society

intelligence of Atman and Prana performs its function throughthe power of Atman only. Mind and these organs are inert andnon-intelligent. They appear to be intelligent through the lightand power of the Atman. Brahman or the Atman gives to theear the power of hearing, the mind the power of thinking, thetongue the power of speaking, the eye the power of seeing andthe power of life to the Prana. It is therefore said that it is theear of the ear, the mind of the mind, etc.There is a director for the ears, eyes, tongue, mind andlife-force who is distinct from the ear, mind and Prana. Theears, eyes, mind and Prana exist for his use just as the houseexists for the use of the owner. The director is Brahman orAtman.The eye and the organs cannot go to the Brahman. Theycannot approach Him for one cannot go to one's own Self.How can the eyes see the seer of sight? The eye is an object ofperception for the mind and Atman. However clever anacrobat may be, he cannot jump on his own shoulders. So isthe case with fhe senses. The eye can only see the externalobjects of the universe. That is its only function. How can itknow or reach its source which is extremely subtle? It is notpossible to go to one's own self. Similarly, speech cannot gothere. When you utter the word cow, that word enlightens theobject 'cow' denotes by it. Then it is said that the word goes tothe object. The source or support or abode or resting place forthe word and the organ that utters it is Brahman. Therefore theword or the speech or the mouth does not go there, i.e.,approach Brahman.The mind also cannot go there. How can it know theknower? Just as fire that burns and enlightens other objectscannot either burn or enlighten itself, so the mind whichknows the external objects through the avenues of the senses,cannot know the Atman or Brahman, because Brahman is thesource for the mind also, and the mind is gross, inert and160 LECTURES ON YOGA AND VEDANTA