Self-realization · 11 of 11
Body and mind: glands and propensities
The mind speaks through fifty propensities, and the propensities answer to the glands of the body. This is where philosophy meets practice.
On each page the marked passages are the words of Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, from the books. The lines between them are ours and only lead from one passage to the next.
A machine moved by propensities
The human body is a machine moved by fifty propensities (vrttis) in the mind.
These mental propensities are regulated by certain glands in the body. This bodily machine can be manipulated at will by one who can control these glands. Control over the glands will control the propensities and this will in turn control the bodily functions.
Cakras, glands and hormones
A cakra is described here in bodily terms: a group of glands. The propensities show themselves through them.
What is a cakra? It is a collection of glands and sub-glands, and the location of these glands and sub-glands differs from animal to animal.
Propensities are formed according to one’s inherent saḿskáras, and the expression and control of these propensities are dependent upon the various cakras. The fifty main propensities of the human mind are expressed internally or externally through the vibrational expression of these cakras. These vibrations cause hormones to be secreted from the glands, and the natural or unnatural expression of the propensities depends on the degree of normal or abnormal secretion of the hormones.
Why a good intention is not enough
This explains an everyday puzzle: a person knows what is right and still cannot do it.
The relation between the physical body and the mind is very close. Mental expression is brought about through the vrttis, and the predominance of the vrttis depends on different glands of the body. There are many glands in the body and from each there is a secretion of a particular hormone. If there is any defect in the secretion of hormones or any defect in a gland, certain vrttis become excited.
For this reason, we find that in spite of having a sincere desire to follow the moral code, many persons cannot do so; they understand that they should do meditation, but they cannot concentrate their minds because their minds become extroverted due to the external excitement of this or that propensity.
What practice does
The chain runs both ways. If glands can disturb the mind, work on the glands can steady it.
Ásanas control the glands, the glands control the secretion of hormones, and the secretion of hormones controls the propensities. So ásanas help a sádhaka [spiritual aspirant] to balance the body and concentrate the mind.
By performing ásanas [postures for physico-psychic well-being] regularly, human beings can control the propensities attached to each cakra, and hence the thoughts which arise in their minds and their behaviour.
The practices themselves, each on its own page, are in the Practices section of the site.