# RKS: BUDDHI OR BUDDHA - The Chitta Dictates

# RKS: BUDDHI OR BUDDHA

The 'Chitta' Dictates

1st January 2022

ARE YOU A BUDDHA OR A BODHISATVA INDIVIDUAL?  

Dear Reader,

The top 5 religions in this world - followers-wise - includes:

1. Christianity (31.2%) - population-following 3.2 billion (bn)
2. Islam (24.1%) - population-following 1.8 bn
3. Irreligion (16.0%) - 'unaffliated' population-following 1.2 bn
4. Hinduism (15.1%) - population-following 1.1 bn
5. Buddhism (6.9%) - population-following 0.5 bn

Folk religions constitute 5.61% whilst all other religions make up the remaining 2.09% amongst the latter, Sikhism is 0.3% (~25 bn followers) and Jainism is 0.05% (<5 million followers). In modern India the most prevalent religions, that have originated in the country itself, are Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

HINDU RELIGIONS & MIND 

Mind is an Eastern world philosophy and India lies in the East of the Globe. How much have the  various Indian originated religions have impacted the brain and mind is indeed interesting to understand. 

Founders of Hinduism are considered to be Brahma & Indra, Buddhism is Siddhartha Gautama, Sikhism is Guru Nanak and for Jainism is Mahavira. 

1. Sikhism acknowledges the mastery of mind. 
2. Jainism teaches control of mind and senses via 'Jain' meditation.
3. The Vedas in Hinduism have in fact dissected the mind into the 4 basic components: Manas, Ahamkara, Chitta and Buddhi.
4. Buddhism believes that meditation transforms mind but what is more important is how scientific advances can explain this observation. After centuries of inner contemplation Buddhists understand more deeply about how the mind behaves!

Buddha means 'the awakened one' and Siddhartha Gautama was so named since He discovered the Path to Enlightenment. The word Buddha is derived from the Bodhi (Bo) tree (Ficus religiosa) under which Gautama stood for 49 days long meditative process.

BUDDHA vs BUDDHI

Siddhartha Gautama was called, following his embarking on the Path of Enlightenment, 'Buddha' which is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Budh' meaning to awaken and becoming divine. 'Buddha' is masculine and the feminine equivalence is 'Buddhi'.

Buddhi is related to awakening since it entails assigning meaning and value to experiences and the same is based on one's intelligence. Incidentally, in Hindu mythology, Buddhi is one of the 3 consorts of Lord Ganesha:

1. Buddhi: Intellect
2. Siddhi: Spiritual Power
3. Riddhi: Prosperity

A stark realisation of the more importance of mind over brain is that the brain is only 2% of the body's weight but utilises 20% of total energy spent by an individual. This means using mind is very expensive!

BUDDHI vs CHITTA

The intellect or Budhi comes on and goes off but Chitta is the last point of the mind and connects to the basis of creation within oneself as well as with consciousness. Chitta can be loosely understood as preparing and purifying the mind to reside in the self. 

With only Buddhi one has intelligence BUT does not know how to be at peace with oneself. Once Chitta is accessed everything that is needed will simply happen in the best possible way. This is because an individual who has attained Chitta finds it easy to comprehend God's knowledge. The innermost core of mind is Chitta itself, and the effort here is to calm the mind from disturbances.

MANTRAS FOR ATTAINING CHITTA

Attaining 'Inner Purity' is Chitta Suddhi. The ways and means to attaining Chitta have been captured in the Hindu scriptures and culture but the same need to be understood and imbibed in the context of current standards of Society and modern living.

1. Practising Yoga seems to be the underlying essence of endeavouring gaining of Chitta.
2. Daily thinking and regular positive praying with surrender of inner self to the Almighty.
3. Performing Yagnyas as preached by the Holy Bhagavad Gita.
4. Performing one's duties selflessly and sincerely.
5. Giving up all acts that aim for fulfilling one’s desires, such as fame, name, wealth, progeny, long life, etc.

In today's world one cannot however avoid ordained duties that one engages in daily life. In such a situation, it is wise to dedicate all acts to God and thereby choose to give up the fruits thereof. This attitude to one’s acts is called Tyaga. When the acts are dedicated to God, He gradually clears the mind of impurities and Chitta is conferred.

How does one know if Chitta Siddhi has been attained? The tale-tell signs of having 'accessed' Chitta are:

• Hearing 'Divine Sounds' without closing ears.
• Perceiving 'Inner Divine Light'.
• Feeling 'Divine Vibrations' on face, forehead or top of head.
• Ability to be calm and unperturbed, but yet remain active, under all circumstances.
• Fading away of negative qualities.
• An increase in the love for God.

Renunciation is the crucial factor anyway. Say goodbye to Chitta if 'irreligion' like Tissarakkha, wife of Ashoka The Great, who in 254 BC destroyed the original Bodhi tree since she disfavored  the Emperor embracing Buddhism. 

SUMMING UP

The word Buddha is an English corruption of the pronunciation of the Sanskrit word “Buddh”. An individual who pursues the perfect knowledge with a steady, calm and peaceful mind by exercising control on his or her mental activity, speech and actions, carefully synchronized, is striving for Bodhisattva.

Bodhisattva is the combination of two Sanskrit words – “Bodhi” and “Sattv”. The word “Sattva" in Bodhisattva is again an English corruption of the pronunciation of the Sanskrit word “Sattv”.

Bodhisattva is broadly understood as the attainment of Chitta like Buddha. Lord Ganesh has been referred to as Buddha in the second verse of the Ganesha Purana version of the Ganesha Sahasranama (list of names of Lord Ganesha). Bhaskararaya's (Bhāskararāya Makhin: 1690–1785), widely considered an authority on all questions pertaining to the worship of the Mother Goddess, version on the Ganesha Sahasranama says that this name for Ganesha means that the Buddha was an avatar of Ganesha.

To reach the dwelling place of Gods in heaven (Brahmaviharas) the following 4 virtues are sacrosanct:

1. Loving - Kindness (Maitri)
2. Compassion (Karuna)
3. Emphatic Joy (Muditaa) - feeling genuinely blissful for other's joys even if one has not contributed
4. Equanimity (Upekshaa) - Even-mindedness

With Brahmaviharas there will be Chitta Prasadanam which entails making the entire mind field a pleasant place. 

This blog has been the inspiration driven by my school mate and toughest unbeatable academic competitor Milind Shrikhande (Corporate Governance, Asset Pricing, International Finance, Corporate Finance - Georgia State University) who probably has the best Buddhi (amongst my known friends n' foes) - maybe an I.Q. >200 - and looks forward to more in attainment.

DR R K SANGHAVI

Prophesied Enabler

Experience & Expertise: Clinician & Healthcare Industry Adviser