2025, Vol. 11, Issue 5, Part A

author(s)
Sanjib Mahato

abstract
In Advaita Vedanta, the mind plays a pivotal role in understanding perception and other sources of valid knowledge. The function of the sākṣī (witness-consciousness) is closely tied to the mind, serving as the instrument for self-awareness and realization of the ultimate reality. The Advaita Vedāntins view the mind not as a sense organ, differing from the Naiyāyikas, who see the mind from an epistemological perspective. Advaitins, with their focus on the metaphysical nature of the mind, describe the mind as an instrument of consciousness, limited by time and space, and existing only as an appearance within the universal consciousness. This paper explores the Advaita Vedantic conception of the mind, its functions, and its role in perceiving and acquiring knowledge.