Guest guest Posted February 6, 2000 Report Share Posted February 6, 2000 Remain Unaffected by Sorrows (An Article from the Religious Section of The Hindu taken with permission: "Copyrights 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.") The mind of even a wise man may waver. He has to bridle it and bring it under control. This is a tough and stupendous task but Lord Krshn has prescribed the techniques, the emphasis being on meditation. With patience and perseverance a person develops concentration. He must continue to practice regularly even when he faces worldly problems and not become impatient at the delay in getting success. He will be resolute, persevering and forbearing. Such a person (Yogi), the Lord adds in His Bhagavad Gita, will relinquish his desires, will regulate his senses, and ultimately realise his Self. Overcoming obstacles by constant practice of meditation and curbing desires, he will come to possess a tranquil mind, enjoy unending happiness and experience bliss. The Lord points out how in spite of his efforts, even a man of intellect will find his mind wandering. He knows that slowly and steadily, with tirelessness, it has to be reined in and chained to the Self. At one stage, all disturbing thoughts will cease. The result when attained will be something ineffable. In his lecture, Swami Swaroopanand said, the magical formula that helped in controlling the mind and continue meditation was, ``I refuse to be miserable.'' This indeed is the secret of life. One cannot escape sorrows but it will be possible to avoid coming into contact with those worldly objects which may cause them. For instance, fire is bound to scald a person but a person can abstain from going near it. A Yogi will divorce sorrows from his life and when they affect him, he will not get dejected. A story is told of a farmer who was always happy, contented with cultivating his farm with conventional tools and ploughing the land with a horse. The animal died and he was not upset and when neighbors approached him, his reply was ``we will see.'' They presented him with a young one which however ran away. Even then, he smiled. The horse returned and his son, who rode it fell down and got injured. Then too he did not show much concern. Later when young men in that place were conscripted into war service, his son was spared because of his fracture. The old man was calm and continued his work.'' A saintly person who abandoning without reserve all fancied or cultivated desires, restraining all the senses by the mind and gradually withdraw, merging the mind in the Self and experiences happiness within himself. If the mind wanders away, he will be able to control it by constant practice. How he has registered progress can be seen by the tranquility of mind. When the knowledge of the eternal relationship between himself and the Lord awakens in him (that the Lord is seated within him), he will live a life of loving service to Him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2000 Report Share Posted February 6, 2000 Hi! Some comments. There are two schools of thought. One is to "control" the mind and another is to "watch" mind. In the former, it appears one takes control and channelizes the mind to be quiet (just like a school teacher with authority) and in the latter, the mind dissolves or disappears thus becoming quiet. The authority process works if the mind is capable of being scolded and subdued. The watching process works if one has the patience. The control the mind concept is probably more palatable since it goads our ego to do something to achieve something -- it is a challenge and therefore worth trying to get something. Sometimes I wonder whether we have to goad the ego and succumb to it as we "control" the mind since we have achieved something important. The farmer in the story just accepted what was happening and was not really controlling his mind. he did not even watch his mind! -- Vis Ram Chandran wrote: > Ram Chandran <chandran > > Remain Unaffected by Sorrows (An Article from the Religious Section of The > Hindu taken with permission: "Copyrights 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet > Initiatives Inc.") > > The mind of even a wise man may waver. He has to bridle it and bring it under > control. This is a tough and stupendous task .......... > ............. > ............ > > A story is told of a farmer who was always happy, contented with cultivating > his farm with conventional tools and ploughing the land with a horse. The > animal died and he was not upset and when neighbors approached him, his reply > was ``we will see.'' They presented him with a young one which however ran > away. Even then, he smiled. The horse returned and his son, who rode it fell > down and got injured. Then too he did not show much concern. Later when young > men in that place were conscripted into war service, his son was spared > because of his fracture. The old man was calm and continued his work.'' > ............ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2000 Report Share Posted February 7, 2000 On Sun, 6 Feb 2000, R. Viswanathan wrote: > "R. Viswanathan" <rvis > > Hi! > Some comments. There are two schools of thought. One is to "control" the >mind and another is to "watch" mind. In the former, it appears one takes >control and channelizes the mind to be quiet (just like a school teacher >with authority) and in the > latter, the mind dissolves or disappears thus becoming quiet. The authority >process works if the mind is capable of being scolded and subdued. The >watching process works if one has the patience. I guess the key lies in when can u take the mind to the subject u desire. If one is not that strong in concntration then the technique of letting the mind cool down a bit by wandering here and there while we are watching it's wandering and some sort of trying to detach from them is ok. But if the person is strong in concentration he/she puts the mind to the thoughts one desire. Mind struggles a bit but then gives up to the strong conc. and will of the person. > The control the mind concept is probably more palatable since it goads our > ego to do something to achieve something -- it is a challenge and > therefore worth trying to get something. > > Sometimes I wonder whether we have to goad the ego and succumb to it as we "control" the mind since we have achieved something important. We control the mind by diverting it to pious thoughts and lord. It can be that one may have ego in doing so or one may not have so. > > The farmer in the story just accepted what was happening and was not really >controlling his mind. he did not even watch his mind! > I guess his was an clear understanding abt the things. > -- Vis > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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