Having seen, and experienced, the effect of forgetting who I am, let us examine what is happening inside this pin-point of light, this spark of consciousness, that is the soul. Each soul has three separate faculties. As they are described, you will be able to see not only how so many accidents have-come about through lack of understanding, but also the method for gaining control once more.

Although we can give each faculty a different name, it is actually the same energy functioning on three different levels - these are: the MIND, the INTELLECT and the IMPRESSIONS.

The Mind - Through the mind one IMAGINES, THINKS and FORMS IDEAS. Our thoughts are created in the mind The thought process is the basis of all EMOTIONS, DESIRES and SENSATIONS. It is through this faculty that in an instant, thoughts can reach anywhere, or re-live a past experience and produce happiness or sadness. The mind is a subtle organ which should not be confused with the heart, which is merely a physical organ that maintains blood circulation.

Through Raja Yoga. . . the Mind is controlled

The Intellect - The intellect is then used to ASSESS thoughts. This is the faculty which UNDERSTANDS. Our capacity to understand is perhaps the single most crucial ability of all. With the deepening and broadening of the intellect, clear understanding of anything is possible.

.....the Intellect is developed and elevated.

In addition to understanding, the intellect REASONS, MEMORIZES, DISCRIMINATES and TAKES DECISIONS. As with all faculties of the soul, it is subtle and spiritual, not physical, so it should not be confused with the brain. The brain is merely the physical focus of the nervous system and acts as the control panel of the soul. Through this physical control panel, "I, the soul" am able to regulate the functions of the different organs of my body. "I, the soul" am able to alter the pulse and respiration of my body, simply by reacting to an external situation, which I decide makes me overjoyed or very upset. So my intellect is not part of the physical brain, but the subtle faculty of judgement and understanding of "I, the soul".

THE CYCLIC PATTERN OF THOUGHT

The Impressions - Any action that has been performed leaves an impression on the soul. We will refer - to impressions as "SANSKARAS", which is the precise Hindi word used. HABITS, TENDENCIES, EMOTIONAL TENDENCIES , TEMPERAMENTS, PERSONALITY TRAITS are all SANSKARAS imprinted on the soul through each action it has performed. All the thoughts that occur in my mind are the direct result of my SANSKARAS. So my most fundamental feature as a soul, my personality, is determined by these SANSKARAS.

Each action I do either creates a sanskar (this is how a habit begins), or reinforces an old one if the action is a repetition. This enables us to understand that the SANSKARAS contain the COMPLETE RECORD of all my mental and physical actions, i.e. all my experiences up to this moment.

Any thought that arises in my head will be due to the influence of one or more SANSKARAS. This makes it clear that I, and I alone, am responsible for my own thoughts, although we tend to deny this responsibility and blame external situations instead.

If an action is repeated often, it becomes a deep sanskar. Rather in the same way that the more one digs a hole the deeper it gets and the more difficult it will be to erase all trace of it. Old habits die hard for this reason alone.

. . . and, with Raja Yoga, the SANSKARAS are purified and become sovereign.

The Effect of SANSKARAS on the Mind and Intellect - Imagine yourself as the detached observer of a car accident. A number of people will arrive on the scene, but although it is the same sight for each person, their different SANSKARAS will produce quite different reactions to the chaos.

For example, one person is examining the injured and I can see that he is a doctor. One is calmly questioning the onlookers and I can see that he is a policeman. Someone else is unhurriedly looking at the damaged vehicles, while another person is completely overwhelmed with emotion. The unhurried one is a mechanic and I can see that the other probably has a relationship with one of the injured.

The stimulus is the same, but their reactions are totally different. Different SANSKARAS lead to their different reactions.

Equally, I know from past experience that my own state of mind controls my thoughts. For instance, one day many things go wrong, and yet a great deal of inner strength enables me to remain calm and peaceful. On another day I may lack that stability and the slightest word out of place can annoy me. It wasn't the fault of the person who spoke, but my own state of being that created that reaction.