A Comprehensive Collection - Swami Vivekananda

264 THE COSMOS: THE MICROCOSM.for this vision ? First the eyes ;I must have eyes. If I amcomplete in every way, and yet have no eyes, I will not beable to see you. The first thing necessary, therefore, isthat I must be in possession of eyes. Secondly, that Willnot be sufficient, if there is not something behind the eyes,the real organ of vision. The eyes are not the organs theyare but the instruments of vision, and theorgan is behind,the nerve centre in the brain. If that centre be injured ,a man may have the clearest pair of eyes, yet will not seeanything. So, it is necessary that this centre, or the realorgan, be there. Thus with everyone of our senses. Theexternal ear is but the instrument to carry the vibration ofsound inward, and it must be carried to the centre. Yetthat is not sufficient. Sometimes in your library you areintently reading a book, and the clock strikes twelve, butyou do not hear. The sound was there; the pulsations in theair were there, the ear was there, the centre was there,and these vibrations have been carried to the ear, the earhas carried them to the centre, and yet you did not hear.What was the defect ? The mind was not there. Thus wesee that the third step is,that the mind must be there.First the external instrument, then this external instrumentwill carry the sensation to the organ, and the organ mustbe joined to the mind. When the mind is not joined to theorgan, the organ and the ear may take the impression, andyet we shall not be conscious of it. The mind, too, isonly the carrier it has to; carry the sensation still forwardand give it to the intellect. The intellect determines uponwhat isbrought to it. Still this is not sufficient. The intellect must carry it forward, and present the whole thingbefore the ruler in this body, the human soul, the king onhis throne. Before him, this is presented, and then fromhim comes the order, do this, or do not do this ;and the