The Role of Body, Mind, and Intellect in Life’s Experiences

Note: This is the 10th reflection in a series inspired by Self-Unfoldment by Swami Chinmayananda.

Life is a series of experiences. Each experience is akin to a brick used in the construction of a home. The quality of these “bricks” determines the overall quality of our life. By reflecting on these experiences, we learn to distinguish between choices that are merely enjoyable and those that are truly beneficial for our long-term happiness. This nuanced understanding helps in navigating life’s events, ensuring that we make decisions that foster a state of joyful living.

We gain experiences when we either receive something from the world or respond to it through our three equipments of experience—Body, Mind, and Intellect (BMI). When we interact with the world through our body, we experience the world of objects that we perceive, see, taste, and so forth; through our mind, we experience the world of emotions and feelings; and through our intellect, we experience the world of thoughts and ideas.

For an experience to occur, the experiencer (subject), the object of experience, and the process of experiencing (the relationship between subject and object) should be present. For instance, you (subject) are there, and this blog post (object) is there, but without reading it (the relationship between the two), you will not perceive, feel anything, or have any thoughts or ideas about it.

If I am engaging with objects, emotions, and thoughts (OET) through the BMI, I must recognize that I am distinct from them. I become a different facet of my personality when I identify with each equipment of experience. Identified with the body, I become the perceiver experiencing the world of objects. Identified with the mind, I become the feeler experiencing the world of emotions. Identified with the intellect, I become the thinker experiencing the world of thoughts (ideas). I am neither the BMI nor the OET. I am something beyond that.

This insight is essential for making deliberate choices that align with our true self, distinct from the fleeting nature of the body, mind, and intellect. By examining life’s experiences through the perspective of ancient wisdom and intentional decision-making, we are empowered to create a life filled with joy and peace.