Antahkaran is the inner instrument, through which one experiences the world. It is made up of four parts: mind, intellect, consciousness and ego.
- Mind is manas and it is constantly engaged with one’s thoughts, attachments and impressions.
- Intellect is buddhi and it is the discriminating faculty that helps in understanding and making decisions.
- Consciousness is Chit and it is the inner awareness that enables the soul to experience the world.
- Ego is ahankara and it is the sense of Me, I and the feeling of being separate.
Ahankara has to be controlled and free from the influence of the gunas. Understanding Antahkaran is crucial in spiritual practices as it is vital to purify the mind and control the ego in order to be on the spiritual path. Antahkaran also acts as a bridge between the Atman (the inner self) and the external world.
Antahkaran Shuddhi is achieved through meditation and contemplation, removing the mind from the chaos of the external world and going into stillness and silence. It is only then that we can observe the mind and move beyond the mind.
It is said that the Antahkaran resides in the heart, according to the Mundaka Upanishad. One’s heart is full of knots, which come from one’s samskaras. The knots become tighter as one continues to have the same responses to irritants. One has to acknowledge these samskara knots and after that one has to go through the process of self-observation, reflection and reduce the response level to the recurring thorns (binding desires) and thereby reduce the karmic levels.
Breath awareness
Breath awareness and Samvrit pranayama enable one to purify one’s antahkaran. Simply starting with being conscious of one’s breath, inhalation and exhalation. Counting one’s breath backwards to 0, making no errors. Increasing the duration of the counting to 54 backwards. Next inhale to the count of 5, pause to the count of 5, exhale to the count of 5, pause to the count of 5. This is one round, and it is the Samvrit (balancing) pranayama. Counting is vital and so is the increasing of the duration from 27 to 54 to 108. Another inclusion is visualizing the prana in the breath. Here one is aware of the breath, visualizing the prana and concentrating on the counting. What is the outcome? Remember there is no hurry. One is gradually staying away from the persistent thoughts, and desires, which attempt to influence one.
Add Ons
Mantra ‘So Ham’.
Ujjayi Pranayama.
Khechari Mudra.
Dear ones, you will find that it is so simple, and you will perceive the change in yourself. You are now ready to engage in self-analysis and introspection impartially.
Aim Hrim Klim