The Philosophy of the Upanishads c11.s2.t1.3

c11.s2.t1.3

(1) To the brain as the central organ, and its two dependents the sensible and the motor nerves, corresponds the relation of manas (mind and conscious will) to the five jñâna—indriyas, or organs of knowledge (these are, following the order of the five elements to which they correspond,—hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell), and the five karma-indriyas, or organs of action (speech, hands, feet, and the organs of generation and secretion). The jñâna-indriyas convey the impressions of the senses to the manas, which manufactures them into ideas (saṅkalpa). On this side therefore it corresponds to our mind. These ideas are then formed into resolves (saṅkalpa) by the manas in its function as “conscious will,” and are carried into execution by the five karma-indriyas. The assigning a common organ (manas) for mind and conscious will, and a common function (saṅkalpa) for ideas and resolves corresponds to the physiological fact, according to which the brain both shapes the impressions of the sensible nerves into ideas, and also carries into execution these ideas, so far as they become resolves of the will, by means of the motor nerves. Manas in Śaṅkara’s view is the sole internal organ. Buddhi, ahaṅkâra and c’ittam, which are treated as separate organs by the Sâṅkhya and Yoga, are with him merely functions of manas.¹