Week Two - Buddhi Intellect, The Wise Mother

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for being there last week as we began a new Sunday yoga term at Thrive! This Sunday I have a handful of spaces available in the Hatha Flow at 5pm, and also in the Soft Stretch practice at 6:30pm. Please let me know if you'd like me to save you a space. It will be a special session for Mother's day - a chance to move your body in a way that is a big THANK YOU - to yourself, to your mother, to the natural world and all the wild ways of which we are designed. The greatest prerequisite to caring for others is to fill your own cup; to take time, tend to your unique soul, and breathe deeply. 

Let's do it together! I am so grateful for these Sunday evenings - it's a highlight of my week. Thank you :)

This term, as we tackle the yogic concept of the MIND with an exploration of the antahkarana (the four parts of the psyche), we come now to the buddhi. And a perfect time for it, too! For the buddhi is the mother of the psyche, the wise parent, the teacher. Last week we briefly touched on the aspect of the antahkarana that is called the manas, the everyday mind. This is the part of our psyche that goes out to meet the world, that responds to stimulation, that sees and feels and touches and smells; a surface level intellect. The buddhi is a layer of our mind that is deeper still; where we may find a more discerning intellect. The wisdom seeker.  

A beautiful way to think of it, taught to me by my teachers, is to consider the manas and the buddhi as two great illuminators, working on behalf of the Self. Psychologically, manas and buddhi are the two aspects of our psyche that exist in the light; because we are aware of them. And they balance one another. The light of manas allows us to see the world and ourselves as separate beings; physical touch, response systems, fight or flight impulses - all designed to keep us safe and thriving in an animalistic/natural world. The light of the buddhi allows us to see this world and ourselves in it as united beings - all things as one. Yoga. This is the wise mind, who knows that rivers run deep underground where you cannot see them, and that there is more to life than meets the eye...

Hence, a third eye, where the Buddhi sits. The deep part of us that sees and knows. The voice that is true and carries resonance within the mind.

The sanskrit word buddhi comes from the root word 'budh'; which means to awaken. The great Buddha, of course, translates to mean the 'awakened one'. The buddhi then, in yoga, is the part of our mind where we may be more spiritually awake - where we make good decisions, we consult our values, where we understand right and wrong. But it is also our higher knowing, the seat of our intuition, a place where we set intentions, and where we may recognise the ego for what it is.

I've always loved stories. As a music teacher working with kids all week, I am amazed by how easily knowledge gets absorbed when it's hidden in a story. Older traditions understood this: that learning was a relational process - this is why story and myth was so famously used as a way to pass down generational wisdom; beliefs, values, and lessons. In fact, I heard something recently about how child comprehension in new generations has fallen incredibly low as a result of learning via technology. Studies show that we have evolved as a species to learn best from other bodies. Not machines. It's a nervous system thing. Our mind has an amazing ability to put itself in other people's shoes, and our brain develops in fascinating ways because of this. Not only does relational learning soften the illusion of ego - ahamkara - the me, myself and I, tendencies - but it also teaches empathy; the highest form of intelligence. 

In line with this, I would like to offer you the ancient traditional story of Aladdin, as told to me by my teacher, Sadhu. It's one of my all time favourites, and it shows how stories can get watered down over time; when society loses sight of its values. 

Once upon a time, in a land that was very hot and dusty, there lived a poor young boy with big dreams. His name was Aladdin, and his life was very hard. He worked day and night to care for his mother and sisters, who were also very poor. He would often distract himself with grand fantasies as he worked, dreams of great treasures and success. He desperately wanted to live a life of ease and luxury. 

One day, he came upon a magic genie. Finally, a stroke of luck! The genie promised Aladdin that he would be his servant and do absolutely anything that was asked of him. Aladdin was thrilled. He instructed the genie to do all kinds of tasks; go to work for him all day, cook his dinner, tailor him a new pair of trousers - all these jobs the genie did happily and with enthusiasm. When each task was completed, the genie would immediately ask: "What will I do for you now? What now?"

After only a few days, Aladdin began to get quite annoyed. He was running out of things for the genie to do. And the genie wouldn't leave him alone for a second. "What now? What can I do for you now?" Incessant questioning. It was driving poor Aladdin mad.

In less than a week, Aladdin threw up his hands and brought the genie to his mother. Begging her to take the magic genie, he said: "Mother, please save me from this curse. He is really quite handy. I'm sure you will have more work for him than I do." 

Aladdin's mother accepted the genie easily and found out quickly how annoying he could be. "What now? What would you like me to do now?" Over and over and over. There was no peace.

Aladdin's mother was very wise, though. She pointed at the genie and commanded him to build himself a set of stairs, three stories tall. This the genie did happily and with enthusiasm. When the genie was finished, he asked her immediately: "What now? What would you like me to do now?"

The mother smiled and said, "Genie, please walk up and down that stairs until I have something more practical for you to help me with." The genie nodded and began to walk up and down the stairs - happily and with enthusiasm. 

Ha! I love this story so much - it's stayed in my head for years. Within it lies the foundational concepts and technique for meditation (i.e. giving the mind a simple task to do on repeat, for the sake of quiet and peace) and also a glimpse of that part of your psyche which is buddhi - the wise mother.

That's all from me!

Le grá,

Macha