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concept

Mind

Across spiritual traditions, the concept of mind refers to the realm of thought, perception, and consciousness. Traditions converge on the idea that the mind plays a crucial role in shaping our experiences and understanding of reality. However, they diverge in their perspectives on the nature, functions, and potential of the mind.

16,599 quotes

Across traditions

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Quotes

Ignorance is the lack of the divine ability to see the supramental Truth; it is the part of our consciousness that does not perceive, as opposed to the part that sees and knows the truth.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduTeachingKnowledgeMind
The Life Divine, p. 520
This world is an illusion of colors and sounds, a false display created by the tricks of Maya, the mind, and the senses.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingMindCreation
Bliss Divine, p. 462
Everything depends upon the mind. The pure mind acquires a new attitude.
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
HinduTeachingMindPurity
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 352
We can attain peace of mind only by following what Gurbani teaches.
Baba Hardev Singh Ji
UniversalTeachingAttainmentHarmony
Gurdev Hardev Part 2, p. 134
The mind does not become tranquil until it is connected to the ever-peaceful Supreme Being.
Baba Hardev Singh Ji
UniversalTeachingHarmonyInner Peace
Gurdev Hardev Part 2, p. 134
Know the Self as the rider in the chariot, and the body as the chariot itself; know the intellect as the charioteer, and the mind as the reins.
आत्मानँ रथिनं विद्धि शरीरँ रथमेव तु । बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च ॥ ३॥
HinduPoetryMindSelf KnowledgeSanskrit
Katha Upanishad 1.3.3
Mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation for human beings. Attached to objects, it makes for bondage; free of objects, it is held to make for liberation.
मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः । बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम्
HinduTeachingLiberationMindSanskrit
Amritabindu Upanishad 2
That which one does not think with the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is thought — know that alone to be Brahman, not this that people worship here.
यन्मनसा न मनुते येनाहुर्मनो मतम् ।तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥ ६॥
HinduTeachingMindGodSanskrit
Kena Upanishad 1.6
Om. By whom impelled and directed does the mind fly toward its objects? By whom commanded does the first breath go forth? By whom impelled do people utter this speech? What god yokes the eye and the ear?
ॐ केनेषितं पतति प्रेषितं मनः केन प्राणः प्रथमः प्रैति युक्तः ।केनेषितां वाचमिमां वदन्ति चक्षुः श्रोत्रं क उ देवो युनक्ति ॥ १॥
HinduScriptureMindAwarenessSanskrit
Kena Upanishad 1.1
They call the senses the horses, and the objects their pastures. The wise call the Self, joined with the senses and the mind, the enjoyer.
इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुर्विषयाँ स्तेषु गोचरान् । आत्मेन्द्रियमनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्याहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ ४॥
HinduPoetryMindSelf KnowledgeSanskrit
Katha Upanishad 1.3.4
The unwavering resolve by which, through yoga, one holds together the workings of the mind, the vital breaths, and the senses — that resolve, Partha, is sattvic.
धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः | योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ||१८-३३||
Krishna
HinduTeachingMindSelf DisciplineSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 18.33
The Blessed Lord said: Without doubt, mighty-armed one, the mind is hard to restrain and unsteady; but by practice, Arjuna, and by detachment it can be brought under control.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् | अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ||६-३५||
Krishna
HinduTeachingMindDetachmentSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 6.35
For the mind is restless, Krishna, turbulent, powerful, and unyielding; I think restraining it is as hard as restraining the wind.
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम् | तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ||६-३४||
Arjuna
HinduPoetryMindSelf ControlSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 6.34
Wherever the restless, unsteady mind wanders off, from there one should restrain it and bring it back under the control of the Self alone.
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् | ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ||६-२६||
Krishna
HinduTeachingMeditationMindSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 6.26
"As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker" — this is the simile recalled for the yogi of controlled mind, practicing the yoga of the Self.
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता | योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ||६-१९||
Krishna
HinduPoetryMeditationMindSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 6.19
The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these it deludes the embodied one, veiling his knowledge.
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते | एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ||३-४०||
Krishna
HinduTeachingMindDelusionSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 3.40
When the mind follows the wandering senses, it carries away one's wisdom, as the wind carries away a boat on the water.
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते | तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ||२-६७||
Krishna
HinduPoetryMindSelf ControlSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 2.67
This is to be attained by the mind alone: here there is no diversity whatever. He goes from death to death who sees any difference here.
मनसैवेदमाप्तव्यं नेह नानाऽस्ति किंचन । मृत्योः स मृत्युं गच्छति य इह नानेव पश्यति ॥ ११॥
HinduTeachingMindOnenessSanskrit
Katha Upanishad 2.1.11
Beyond the senses are the objects; beyond the objects is the mind; beyond the mind is the intellect; beyond the intellect is the great Self.
इन्द्रियेभ्यः परा ह्यर्था अर्थेभ्यश्च परं मनः । मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्बुद्धेरात्मा महान्परः ॥ १०॥
HinduTeachingMindSelf KnowledgeSanskrit
Katha Upanishad 1.3.10
But one who has understanding, whose mind is always restrained—his senses are manageable, like the good horses of a charioteer.
यस्तु विज्ञानवान्भवति युक्तेन मनसा सदा । तस्येन्द्रियाणि वश्यानि सदश्वा इव सारथेः ॥ ६॥
HinduPoetryMindWisdomSanskrit
Katha Upanishad 1.3.6