The Mind Outside the Brain: A Dialogue Between Vedic Science and Neuroscience

Have you ever wondered whether your mind is simply a product of your brain, or if it exists beyond the physical world, as ancient scriptures have hinted? This question has been a topic of philosophical and scientific debate for centuries. In everyday conversation, we often use "mind" and "brain" interchangeably but treating them as the same thing only adds to the confusion and misrepresents the complex relationship between the two. The truth is, there is a significant difference between the mind and the brain - a difference that can be explored through both modern neuroscience and ancient Vedic wisdom.

From the perspective of neuroscience, the brain is the physical organ responsible for processing information, controlling bodily functions, and producing the mental experiences we recognize as thoughts, emotions, and awareness. Neuroscientists often argue that the mind is inseparable from brain activity. Cognitive processes like learning, memory, and decision-making are carried out by neural networks in the brain. Here, the mind is seen as the immaterial aspect of a person that emerges from the brain's complex processes; all our mental experiences– from thinking to feeling–  are believed to be the result of specific brain functions. Without the brain, it is argued that there would be no mind. Furthermore, studies on mindfulness have shown that practices like meditation can actually change the structure and function of certain brain areas. This suggests that while the mind is responsible for influencing brain activity, it’s still deeply rooted in the brain's physical makeup. In other words, the mind may be non-physical, but it is intimately connected to and dependent on the brain.

However, when we turn to Vedic texts, things get a little more complex. According to Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic school of Vedic philosophy, consciousness is not just a product of the brain, rather it is a universal, non-dual force. This idea suggests that the mind (Manas) and consciousness (Atman) are not confined to the physical brain but are part of a higher, all-encompassing, universal consciousness called Brahman. In Advaita Vedanta, the mind or Manas refers to the thinking mind- the aspect which processes sensory input, makes decisions and analyses information. Meanwhile, the individual consciousness or Atman- the pure, stable, eternal, truest form of self is considered to be a reflection of the Brahman and not different from it. Rather than seeing the mind and brain as interconnected parts of a physical system, Advaita Vedanta views them as individual aspects of a larger, unified consciousness. This suggests that the mind is not just an individual phenomenon but is linked to a broader, cosmic consciousness that exceeds the limitations of the physical brain.

Neuroscience firmly ties the mind to brain activity, arguing that mental processes arise directly from neural functions while Vedic science suggests that consciousness is beyond the physical world and that the mind is just one manifestation of this larger, universal consciousness. However, in both of these philosophies, there is an understanding that the mind-brain relationship is far from straightforward. While neuroscience offers a detailed, mechanistic view of how the mind is linked to the brain, Vedic science offers a more holistic and spiritual view of consciousness. Despite these differences, both fields contribute to our evolving understanding of the mind and consciousness. Neuroscience continues to offer insights into the brain's role in mental processes, while Vedic teachings remind us that consciousness may be far more expansive and elaborate than we perceive.

As research in cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience continues, it’s likely that new discoveries will bring us closer to understanding the nature of the mind and its relationship with the brain. Perhaps one day, we might uncover a deeper truth that combines the best of both perspectives, integrating the physical and the metaphysical, in ways we can only begin to imagine.

References: 

Gunawardena, J. (2022). Learning Outside the Brain: Integrating Cognitive Science and Systems Biology. Proceedings of the IEEE, 110, 590-612. 

https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2022.3162791.

Garai, A. (2023). A Comparative Study and Analysis of the concept of mind in Indian and western philosophy, its implications on Neuroscience. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. 

https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2023.v05i06.8692.

Kak, S. (2002). The Gods Within - on the vedic understanding of mind and neuroscience.

https://consensus.app/papers/the-gods-within-on-the-vedic-understanding-of-mind-and-kak/224ba2557f0d55acab39e754682890cb/

✍️Written by Neeharika Thite (First Year, ADT24SVSB0039)