162. Sixth Sense

Krishna says, “Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu; I am the radiating Sun (10.21). Among the Vedas, I am Sama Veda; I am Vasuva (Indra); among the senses, I am Mind (mann); in creatures, I am Chetana (consciousness) (10.22). Of the Rudras, I am Shankara; I am Kubera (10.23). I am Brihaspati; among expanses of water, I am the ocean” (10.24).

Krishna said that He is the atma (soul) in the heart of all beings (10.20). Earlier, He gave a hierarchy that the atma is superior to buddhi (intellect); buddhi is superior to the mind; the mind is superior to the senses (3.42). But here He says He is the mind among senses and this needs understanding.

It is said that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’. Together, the two ears provide a sense of the direction of sound; two eyes together produce depth perception. One way of looking at the mind is as a simple sum of its senses like ears, eyes etc. Another way is to view it as a ‘whole of the senses’, where together they can perceive far beyond what the simple sum of the senses can achieve. This is also known as ‘beyond senses’ or ‘sixth sense’ in the modern context. Krishna was referring to this sixth sense when he says He is the mind among senses.

Krishna further says, “Among words, I am the Aum (Om); among stationary objects, I am the Himalayas (10.25). Among all trees, I am the Peepal tree; I am Narada; I am the muni Kapila (10.26). I am Airavata amongst all lordly elephants, and the king amongst humans” (10.27).

One common thread is that out of all options, He represents the greatest possibility of ‘peak performance’ like water becoming the ocean.