The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1466 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
5.63Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Mana
(inherent power):
see
MAGIC
.
Manas
(Skt., ‘mind’). In Skt. literature, the mind, the co-ordinating organ of intelligence, thought, understanding, perception, and will. In Vedic times manas meant the individual spirit and the basis of speech (
v
c
). In the Upani
adic period manas is variously treated: sometimes it is closely associated with speech and
breath
as a triple entity, sometimes considered more as the intermediate link between the Self,
tman
, and the senses.
In the
dar
anas
, manas is seen as a special additional sense organ by which thoughts and sensations have access to the
tman. In
S
khya
philosophy, the principle (
tattva
) of manas together with intellect (buddhi) and ego (
aha
k
ra
) makes up a threefold ‘inner instrument’ (
anta
karana
).
In Buddhist psychology, manas is the rational or intellectual faculty of the mind. In the P
li canon it is said to be synonymous with
citta
and
vijñãna (2)
.

Other books

The Venus Belt by L. Neil Smith
Moonseed by Stephen Baxter
That Perfect Someone by Johanna Lindsey
Heart of Thunder by Johanna Lindsey
Blood Axe by Leigh Russell
The Wish by Winters, Eden