Dr. N.L. Kachhara
According to Jain philosophy there are two kinds of mind, dravya manah the physical mind and bhava manah, the psychical mind or power of the soul. The physical mind is made of mano vargana. Only vertebrates have mind, in invertebrates some kind of neuron structure performs the function of mind. The functions of mind are thinking, making choices, memory, pondering, meditating and imagining. All these activities of the soul require a medium in the form of physical mind (dravya manah). In science a distinction is often made in the philosophy of mind and the brain, and there is some controversy as to their exact relationship, leading to mind-body problem. The brain is defined as the physical and biological matter contained within the skull, responsible for all electrochemical and neuronal processes. The mind, however, is seen in terms of mental attributes, such as beliefs and desires. Some adhere to metaphysical dualistic approaches in which mind exists independently of the brain in some way, such as soul or epiphenomenon or emergent phenomenon. Other dualisms maintain that mind is a distinct physical phenomenon, such as electromagnetic field, or a quantum effect. Materialistic options include beliefs that mentality is behaviour or function or, in the case of computationalists and strong AI theorists, computer software (with brain playing the role of hardware).
In spiritual sciences the manomaya kosa and the mental energy body are assigned functions similar to mind. They are supposed to store the thoughts, experiences, beliefs and memories. The mental body and astral body are supposed to be connected. The mental body usually appears as yellow light radiating around the entire body from head to toe, and extends from three to eight inches beyond the physical body. Within this area, individual thought form appear as small 'blobs' of light of varying form and intensity. The astral body also contains energy 'blobs' of all colours of the rainbow, depending on the specific feeling or emotion. The astral body is supposed to contain the emotional patterns, feelings and vibrations that determine our personality, and also how we feel about ourselves and interact with others.
The omniscient knows and perceives the things in their absolute state. He does not make choices and there are no options for him. His knowledge is perfect, he only perceives the truth and there can be no deviation in his knowledge and perception. His knowledge and perceptions are made by the soul and the sense organs play no role in these experiences. The omniscient in the 13th stage of spiritual development has destroyed the four psychical karmas and his manah has been dislodged from the luminous body. The brain, spinal cord and heart are still present in his body and therefore, to equate them with manah shall be fallacious. The manah or mind must be a part of luminous body.
The manomaya kosa or mental energy body, made of mano vargana, is a part of general fiery (tejas) body and can be regarded as mind (conscious). Of course, mind and brain are related. In a way the brain is hardware and mind is software loaded on mano vargana. Mano vargana have positive or negative charge. One of them may store positive thoughts and the other negative thoughts.
