by Jayaram V
The three Instruments of our consciousness.
Emotion, reason and belief play a very important and meaningful role
in our lives.
They are the three most important tools of the human mind that assist us greatly to
comprehend the world and deal with it appropriately. They all operate
within the mind but in different ways. They are also
interconnected and inter dependent. For instance, emotions arise
according to beliefs and the validity of beliefs are tested using
reason. Each of them assist us in different ways to comprehend reality
and deal with our problems.
Emotion, reason and belief represent the body, mind and the soul.
Alternative they correspond to the the animal, human and divine components in us.
At the microcosmic level they constitute the micro Trinity. Emotions
symbolize Lord Brahma, reason symbolizes Lord Vishnu and belief
symbolizes Lord Siva.
Emotions helps us to experience the joys and sorrows of life and find the the
ultimate purpose of our mortal existence through enquiry based upon reason.
When this realization dawns upon us, we turn inward with belief and
achieve our final liberation. to solve the problems of our existence, while belief help us to transcend ourselves to reach the world beyond.
These three tools of the mind have their own limitations. Emotions bring people together through the power of love or the joy of being
together but do not sustain them for long as we all know emotional
people have difficulties in relationships because of their mood swings. Reason helps us to
cope with the world
intelligently, but by itself would leave us cold and
calculated in maintaining relationships. Belief by itself cannot sustain
a relationship for long since the mind always seeks proof when it is
tormented by disbelief or distrust.
Emotions play an important role in the childhood. Reason in the
adulthood and belief in the old age. Individually they have their own
limitations. Blind beliefs bind us to superstition, dogmatism and
unrealistic adventurism. Pure emotions may harm our physical well being
and impair our relationships. Pure reason by itself may make us dry and
insensitive to the beauty and vibrancy of life. But collectively they
compliment each other and serve us very effectively.
Wisdom is to know how to use these instruments of the mind to our
best advantage, when to use and when not to use them. Whether it is in your physical life, material life or spiritual life,
if you learn to use the micro Trinity appropriately you will find
harmony, happiness and equilibrium in your life.
Suggested Further Reading
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