Control of mind

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

 

Recently there has been a discussion of how to control the mind. A very

important question indeed and a very troubling one not only for us but right

from the Maharishis of yore. I would like to add a few thoughts but let me add

that there cannot be any magic solution for this problem.

 

Perhaps the most difficult part of `Yoga' is the control of the mind. The

word `MANAS' meaning mind is at the root of the word `Manushya' human being,

not that other beings do not have a mind. It is in the human that the mind is

capable of reaching heights other beings cannot reach and, it is in the human

that the mind is also capable of stooping down to unfathomable depths.

Lord Krishna says

"One should elevate oneself by One's self not degrade the self

for the self is its own friend and its own worst enemy"

 

According to - Amrita Bindu Upanishad I.4 the mind has 2 parts one impure, the

other pure. The impurities are due to desire and passion. Mind is thus the

cause of both bondage and liberation. It binds the individual when it is

overtaken by desire for enjoyment of sense objects; it makes for Mukti

(liberation or release) when it becomes peaceful and silent. It compares mind

to a river. Water always flows to a lower level; mind always gets attached to

one or the other object of enjoyment.

 

When the mind is controlled, it is a useful servant; when not kept under

control, it can become a capricious master dragging one along the downward

path to degradation. If you control mind, you can direct it to think what you

want it to think and not what it likes to.

 

As the nervous system is not you, the mind is also not you but an external

agency. Once you allow this external agency to tell you what you should do,

you lose your self-control at that very moment.

 

But then, how to control the mind? Is it possible? Reality seems to point to

the contrary. In fact, mind is compared to a monkey - one that is already mad,

further intoxicated by booze and smitten by a wasp all at once. You can well

imagine how it will behave !.

 

Mahopanishad V 99-101 asserts that mind is always unstable and it is well nigh

impossible to get rid of this instability because it is a quality `as basic to

the mind as is heat to fire'.

 

In one of his Kalakshepam discourses, our Azhagiya Singhar mentioned how the

mind would seem to be interested precisely in things expressly prohibited. A

doctor prescribing some medicine cautioned the patient not to think of monkey

while taking the doses. The patient did exactly the opposite because he could

not help in controlling the mind. Everytime he took a dose, the thought of the

monkey occured almost involuntarily !.

 

A famous `Pramana' says -

"Even the waters of the ocean can be drunk (as was done by Agastya); even the

great Meru mountain can be uprooted and thrown up; even fire can be eaten.

But, controlling the mind is a difficult task".

 

Difficult it is, but not impossible. By constant practice and gradual

progression, one can attain a control over mind provided of course, the grace

of God blesses the `Sadaka' . That is why in our daily prayers we invoke

`Gayatri' to kindle the wisdom that would enable the control of mind.

 

Do you know why when Gayatri is required to be done 1008 times , a relaxation

is also prescribed requiring it to be done 108 times, or 28 times or even

just 10 times ? The idea behind this is that when you recite a 1008 times, you

will be able to muster some concentration for a split second during the

process which is enough to secure the benefit which Gayatri is known to confer

on the Sadaka. In other words, if you are able to muster that amount of

concentration within 108, 28 or even 10 times- that would serve the purpose.

Ultimately as in everything else, practice makes for perfection. There is no

shortcut for this.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

[Guest guest]

Dear Anbil mAmA -

 

You have so beautifully expressed yourself onthe difficulties

one faces while doing dhyana (especially while doing Gayatri

japam etc.). May i request you to share with us the essence

of Gayatri (and the meaning of its Dhyana Slokam). What do you

contemplate on while doing Gayatri (is it one of teh divya-desa

perumals or your Acharyan)? I am sure you would have had

extensive conversation regarding this (and Sadhaya Vandanam

in general) with Srimad Poundarikapuram Andhavan and

Srimad Azhagiya-Singer. Please do share the relevent details with us.

 

dAsan

Ramesh Sarangapani