Question: I am not the mind, however we give very high significance what the state of mind when we perform certain activity. For example even when our external sense perform activities related to KC we give less significance when compared to when our mind always thinks about Krishna but our external activities are not related to KC. My question is I am not the mind or the senses so why we consider what the mind does as KC and not the gross senses.
Answer by Romapada Swami:
The mind is considered to be a central component of any yoga system because it is the interface between the spirit soul and the physical body (or senses). The soul exercises its control on matter or physical body through the ‘software’ of the mind, just like one controls a robot through a computer program. Every physical event co-ordinated by the senses is preceded initially by a desire or thought, which in sequence is followed by a feeling, then willing – all of which are factually the functions of the mind. The yoga system, recognizing this mechanism, requires the yoga practitioner to control his mind and fix it upon the Supreme, so that he can go beyond the worldly paradigm.
Not surprisingly, In the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna speaks several verses on the role of the mind, why it is important to control it and what are the risks of not controlling it and benefits of doing so (see BG 6.5-6.7, 6.34-6.36).
As you have noted, while we are the not the mind or the senses, both are faculties gifted to us by Krishna to engage in this world. Krishna Himself clarifies that the mind is superior to the senses (BG 3.42).
Utilizing them properly is the privilege of an enlightened soul.
It is also worth noting that Krishna calls someone a pretender that strives to control their senses but not doing so with a clean mind.
