mana in heart or head?

[franco at RZ.UNI-LEIPZIG.DE]

I think one has to clarify what is meant by manas. The translation as  
"mind" is convenient, but does not convey the sense of "mind" in  
English. According to the major philosophical schools  
(Nyaya,Vaisesika,Mimamsa) the mind is as small as an atom and does not  
have a fixed location, but moves very quickly throughout the body: One  
can only feel or cognize something because the "mind" is there and is  
in contact with the soul. Although the soul is all-pervasive, its  
cognitions are limited to the place where the "mind" is located. There  
is only one place in the body, a special area in the heart called  
puriitat (mentioned also in the Brhadaranyakopanishad), which is  
exception to the rule. If the mind retreats to the puriitat, the soul  
stops cognizing (as in sleep without dreams).
Best wishes
EF


Quoting Allen W Thrasher <athr at LOC.GOV>:

> Dominik said:
>
> "Finally, discourse on the brain in ancient Indian texts, including  
> medical texts, is extremely limited. It's function was certainly  
> *not* known, and it was viewed as some sort of fatty tissue  
> (vasā(-chaṭā))."
>
> How do they deal with the fact that blows to the head can affect  
> mental functionings, or even permanently damage them?
>
> Allen
>
>
>
> Allen W. Thrasher, Ph.D.
> Senior Reference Librarian
> Team Coordinator
> South Asia Team, Asian Division
> Library of Congress, Jefferson Building 150
> 101 Independence Ave., S.E.
> Washington, DC 20540-4810
> tel. 202-707-3732; fax 202-707-1724; athr at loc.gov
> The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the  
> Library of Congress.



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