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Subconsciousness and Inner Functions

A spiritual discourse on the subconscious mind and human psychology.

"Subconsciousness is that storeroom where all the impressions of this life, which we receive through the five jñānendriyas (the senses of knowledge), are stored."

"The mind is nothing but a function which has a double function. The mind is that principle which functions between the conscious and subconscious to take information from the consciousness, which is connected with the intellect."

The speaker explains the nature of the subconscious as a repository for life's impressions, beginning in the womb, and discusses the traditional duty to protect pregnant women—a principle he expands to advocate for lifelong respect for all women. He describes the mind's function as a mediator between consciousness and the subconscious, transferring perceptions and unfulfilled desires, using the analogy of a man dreaming of eating ice cream. He references Patañjali and controversially attributes a statement about Kundalini Yoga to Sigmund Freud.

Recording location: Croatia, Zagreb, Croatian Tour October 2005

Subconsciousness is that storeroom where all the impressions of this life, which we receive through the five jñānendriyas (the senses of knowledge), are stored. This means that from the very first day of our life in the mother's womb—the nine-month period of our being in the mother's body—how the mother was, her psychic and physical condition, affected our life also. Therefore, it is said in the Upaniṣads and in Hinduism that the prime duty of a man is to respect, protect, and take care of the woman, or his wife, especially during pregnancy. During these nine months, she should have a harmonious, spiritual, and peaceful environment. And I always say, I don't agree with this. Indians tell me, "Why don't you agree with this?" Because I say it should not be only nine months, but the whole life long. The woman should have protection lifelong, not only for nine months. If women gain respect in the world, and women realize that, yes, they are the mothers, the future of the youth and of humanity will be happy and peaceful. Anyhow, everything that has happened till today is transferred to the subconsciousness. I have to jump to the other point because I find a chance to explain the mind. The mind is nothing but a function which has a double function. The mind is that principle which functions between the conscious and subconscious to take information from the consciousness, which is connected with the intellect. The intellect is connected to the five senses of knowledge: to see, smell, taste, hear, and touch. Whatever you perceive, there is one principle called the mind; it takes it safely into the subconscious, like a video recording. And the subconsciousness is where all the impressions are worked out and transferred into desires, vāsanā. These desires from the subconscious have to be brought up through the mind and handed over to the intellect. The intellect's duty is to give the judgment—what is the truth, or what is what. The intellect has to decide, to give the judgment, and then when the intellect gives the judgment, your consciousness will transfer these desires to different parts of the body. What desires do you have? If you cannot fulfill them, then these desires will again go back; the mind will carry them back to the subconscious. They will come in dreams. I told one example last year, and I will tell you now again. There was one couple who went walking in the market, and they saw a beautiful ice cream shop. Both of them went to eat ice cream. She said to him, "I'm sorry, you can't eat ice cream, because your doctor prohibited you from eating ice cream for ten days." But he had a desire to eat ice cream. Sometimes such a strong desire, we can't wait. So they went home and he was sleeping. Now he's dreaming that ten days are over and they are going walking again in the market and they went to eat ice cream. He asked his wife, "Can I eat now?" The home minister said, "Yes, you can eat," and allows him. They bought ice cream. He took the spoon and ice cream towards the mouth—not in the mouth, towards the mouth—and the alarm was ringing. Even in the dream he couldn't fulfill his desire. What happened to those desires? They will go again back to the subconscious. After several repetitions, it goes out of your memory. But they will come out, and you don't know. That is what we call in modern medicine and psychology, psychic problems. The father of psychology was Maharṣi Patañjali, who lived before Christ. Read the Patañjali Yoga Sūtras, then you will know what knowledge that man had. He writes about this, about the human mind and human desires and human consciousness. And then in Austria, Mr. Freud, whom the Westerners call the father of psychology, said unfulfilled desires are a psychic problem and it cannot be solved except by practicing Kuṇḍalinī Yoga and meditation. It means you purify your chakras. Recording location: Croatia, Zagreb, Croatian Tour October 2005

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt, what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

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