Mānasika Dharma

Mānasika Dharma · mānasika dharma, “the dharma of the mind”

Grammar: masculine noun phrase; mānasika (of the mind, from manas, the mind) with dharma (right conduct, that which upholds): “the dharma of the mind”.

Meaning: the dharma of the mind, the right conduct of thought, beside the dharma of speech (vācika) and of the body (śārīraka); the deeds of the mind that bind a person or lead him to svarga.

In the scriptures: in the Brahma Purāṇa, Vyāsa tells the munis the dialogue of Devī Umā and Bhagavān Śiva. Umā asks by which three kinds of karma-bonds, of mind, speech and body, humans are bound, how they are freed, and by what conduct they gain svarga. Bhagavān Śiva answers that those who harm no being in thought, word or deed, who keep the mind free of impurity and live with dāna, good deeds, tapas, good conduct, purity and compassion, are not bound by karma. After the dharma of speech, Umā asks him to tell the karmas of the mind that bind a person.

Bhagavān Śiva says: “Listen to the dharmas of the mind that are the means to the svarga-loka. A person is bound by the karma that makes his mind bad.” Then he names those who gain svarga:

  • those who, even when they see another’s wealth in a forest or a lonely place, do not think of taking it; who do not desire another’s wife even when she is found alone; who look on enemies and friends alike, with friendliness (maitrī); who have study of the Veda and śāstras, compassion, purity (śauca) and truth; who are content with their own wealth; and who have only compassion and no enmity toward any being;
  • those who have jñāna, good deeds, patience (kshamā), a good mind, love for the good-minded and knowledge of dharma and adharma, and who live without desire for the fruit of any of the karmas they do;
  • those who give up these pāpas of the mind, have bhakti toward the devas and brāhmaṇas, and always strive in good deeds.

“I have told you the good karmas of the mind,” Bhagavān Śiva says (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 224).

Related terms: Manas · Dharma · Vācika Dharma · Karma · Svarga

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 224