Shiva and Shakti



The Nature of Mind: Beyond Activity to Presence:

Parth:

When we speak of the mind, most people think of it as just activity—thoughts, emotions, and ideas constantly moving. But the mind is not just activity; it is a mental body in which all activities take place. If you have a house, there is space in it, and within that space, life happens. The house is not the activity, but the foundation in which activity occurs. Similarly, the mind is not just movement; it is a dimension of existence that holds all movement within it.

Now, here is something that may shake your understanding—mind is not exclusive to the animate. Even the inanimate has a mental body; it is just that it does not have intent. It is not in a state of active volition. If you look closely, everything in this cosmos is a life process—not a collection of separate objects, but one ongoing process of life. That means everything is alive, not in the way you understand as biological life, but as an existential happening.

What does this mean? It means there is no real beginning and no absolute end because life is not a thing; it is a process. It is not a definite substance; it is a quality of an ongoing, dynamic movement. The very source of creation is stillness—so still that it barely vibrates. Because it is absolute stillness, we call it Shiva. The moment creation happens, it manifests as sound, as movement, as Shakti.

Now, this movement is not random; it carries an imprint, a memory. Not just personal memory—this is far deeper. Everything that moves carries the memory of where it has been, what it has touched, and what it has become. This is why, wherever there is emptiness, life seeps into it. You do not have to invite life; if there is space, it fills. This is the nature of existence.

The Layers of Memory

Most people think memory is just what they remember from yesterday. No, no. Memory is the fundamental substance of creation. You, as a person, are nothing but layers and layers of memory woven together.

  • Elemental Memory – The very five elements that make your body carry an imprint of everything they have been through.
  • Atomic Memory – The very atoms that construct you have a past far beyond your imagination.
  • Inanimate and Animate Memory – What differentiates a rock from a tree is not just chemistry; it is the kind of memory the structure carries.
  • Evolutionary Memory – A fish does not need to learn how to swim; an eagle does not take flying lessons. Why? Because millions of years of evolution are stored in their bodies.
  • Genetic Memory – This is what decides that a human is born as a human and not as a buffalo.
  • Karmic Memory – This is beyond the physical; it is the imprint of all past actions—this is what influences the way you think, feel, and experience life.

All these layers of memory find expression in three different states of mind: the unconscious, subconscious, and conscious mind.

Most of the time, what you call "you" is simply the unconscious spilling into the conscious, regulated by the subconscious. You think you are making choices, but in reality, you are simply playing out the imprints of all these memories.

The Three Dimensions of Mind

To navigate this complexity, we can divide the mind into three fundamental aspects:

  1. The Negative (Protective) Mind – This is not about negativity in the way you think. This aspect of the mind exists for survival. It is reactive, protective, and constantly searching for danger. It is because of this mind that you have an individual identity. This is what grounds you. Without this, you would be floating off into nothingness.
  2. The Positive (Expansive) Mind – This seeks pleasure, fulfillment, and possibility. It wants to explore, experience, and take risks. It is constructive and always looking for ways to grow.
  3. The Neutral (Meditative) Mind – This is the most profound aspect. It does not take sides; it simply sees. It is a mirror, reflecting existence as it is. The one who truly operates from the Neutral Mind is untouched by the fluctuations of life. This is the mind of a yogi.

The Dance of Duality and Balance

Because the nature of the mind is dual—positive and negative, light and dark, up and down—life constantly finds ways to balance itself. If you tip too much into the negative, you become stagnant. If you tip too much into the positive, you become reckless. But life has its own intelligence; it always seeks to balance itself. This is not a philosophy; this is simply how life works.

Only when you operate from the Neutral Mind do you truly see. This is why yogis, when they realize the profound nature of their existence, do not say, "I am this or that." They simply say, Shivoham—I am Shiva. Not as a person, not as an idea, but as an eternal witness to the dance of life.

So, do not think of the mind as just a collection of thoughts. It is the very structure that holds existence itself. And once you perceive this, life becomes effortless. You do not have to fight for balance; you simply align with what is.

Editor's Note:
This article explores the nature of the mind beyond mere thought and activity, revealing its role as a fundamental dimension of existence. Dr. Parth offers deep insights into how the mind functions through memory, perception, and balance, explaining why true clarity arises only when one operates from a state of neutrality. The conversation challenges conventional perspectives, inviting readers to experience the mind not as a chaotic stream of thoughts but as a vast space of awareness.


Q&A with Dr. Parth

Q: You mentioned that memory is not just personal recollection but the very foundation of existence. Can we transcend memory, or are we always bound by it?

Parth:
Memory is the blueprint of creation itself. Everything you see—your body, your emotions, your thoughts—is a result of accumulated memory. But there is something beyond it. If you become conscious of this, you will no longer be enslaved by the patterns memory imposes. Instead, you will use it like a tool. That is the difference between one who is bound and one who is liberated. The question is not whether memory exists—it always will. The question is whether you are caught in it or beyond it.


Q: You spoke about the three dimensions of mind—negative, positive, and neutral. How does one consciously shift into the neutral mind?

Parth:
The neutral mind is not something you create; it is something you recognize. It is always present, but most people are too entangled in their positive and negative fluctuations to notice it. If you simply sit still and watch, without reacting, you will see there is a space in you that is utterly unaffected by whatever is happening. That is the neutral mind. But it takes a certain level of inner stability to rest there.


Q: If even inanimate objects have a mental body, does that mean everything is conscious in some way?

Parth:
Consciousness is not something that belongs to life alone—it is the very fabric of existence. The only difference is, in some forms, it is active, while in others, it is dormant. A rock does not think, but it still holds memory. A tree does not speak, but it still responds. Everything is part of the same intelligence; it is just a matter of how it expresses itself.


Q: Many people struggle with the overactivity of the mind. What is the simplest way to quiet it?

Parth:
The mind is active because you are interested in the activity. The moment you lose interest, it settles naturally. If you try to fight the mind, it will fight back. But if you simply observe without reacting, without getting caught in its movements, it will slow down on its own. Meditation is not about stopping the mind; it is about no longer being identified with it. When that happens, the mind becomes an incredible tool rather than a source of suffering.


Q: You often say that life is a process, not a thing. How does this understanding change the way one experiences life?

Parth:
The moment you see life as a process, you stop struggling with it. Struggle happens only when you try to hold onto something that is constantly moving. If you try to possess time, you will suffer. If you try to hold onto relationships, thoughts, or even your own identity, you will suffer—because everything is moving. The wise do not fight movement; they dance with it. Life is not about controlling; it is about flowing consciously.


Final Thoughts:
Dr. Parth reminds us that the mind is not an enemy to be conquered but a space to be recognized. By shifting from identification to awareness, one moves from struggle to ease, from noise to silence. When the mind is no longer a battlefield but a window into existence, then true clarity and balance arise—not as an effort, but as a natural state of being.

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