THE PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

THE PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE
An object excites the senses. The mind arranges the sense-impressions into a percept.
Egoism refers it to the Self. Intellect forms the concept. It converts the percept into a concept and
presents it to the Purusha. Then there is knowledge of the object.
Before you engage in any matter, you first observe or consider, then you reflect, and then
determine: “This must be done by me;” and then you proceed to act. This ascertainment: “Such act
is to be done by me,” is the determination of the intellect (Adhyavasaya). The intellect is an
instrument which receives the ideas or images conveyed through the organs of sense and the mind,
constructs them into a conclusive idea, and presents this idea to the Self. The function of the
intellect is determination (Nischaya).
The mind is both an organ of sensation and of action. The senses receive simple impressions
from without. The mind cooperates with the senses, and then the impressions are perceived. The
mind ponders, the intellect determines, and egoism becomes conscious.
Agency belongs to egoism—the Ahankara or the I-maker—which is itself a product of
Prakriti, but not to the Purusha or Self who is always a silent witness.
Intellect, egoism,mind and the eye see a form at once, in one instant, and come immediately
to the conclusion, say, “This is a jar.” The same three, with the tongue, at once relish taste; with the
nose smell; and so with the ear and the skin. The function is also occasionally gradual. Aman going
along a road sees an object at a distance. A doubt arises in his mind whether it is a post or a man. He
then sees a bird sitting on it. Then the doubt is removed by the reflection of the mind. The intellect
makes a determination that it is a post only. Then the egoism say: “I am certain it is a post only.” In
this way, the functions of the mind, intellect, egoism and the eye are gradual, also. There is leisure
for the eye to see, for the mind to reflect or consider, for egoism to apply, and for the intellect to
conclude. There is another example. The ear hears the twang of a bowstring; the mind reflects that
this must be for the shooting of an arrow; egoism says: “It is aimed at me;” and the intellect
determines: “I must run at once.”

The intellect, the mind and egoism are the doorkeepers. The five senses of perception or
Jnana-Indriyas are the gates. The intellect is the instrument or organ which is the medium between
the senses and the Self.