Manas

Manas (Sanskrit: मनस्, literally "mind") is one of the four components of the antahkarana (the internal psychic instrument) according to Sankhya philosophy and Vaishnava theology. The manas is defined as the faculty that processes sensory impressions, generates thoughts, doubts, desires, and mental projections. Unlike buddhi (the intellect that discriminates and decides) and ahankara (the ego that identifies), the manas is fundamentally a receptive and oscillating organ that constantly wavers between sensory stimuli and the inner aspirations of the soul. The Bhagavad-gita describes the mind as an instrument that can be the best friend or the worst enemy of a human being: a disciplined mind oriented toward God is a valuable ally, while an uncontrolled mind drags the soul toward suffering and illusion. In bhakti-yoga practice, the manas is purified through chanting the holy names (harinama), meditating on Krishna's lilas, studying scriptures under the guidance of the guru, and associating with advanced devotees (sadhu-sanga). When the manas becomes steadily and lovingly fixed on Krishna, the practitioner experiences deep peace and the beginning of the meditative absorption (samadhi) that characterizes the advanced stages of devotional life.