MIND AND SERENITY - SWAMI TATWANANDA

[Guest guest]

"The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man, leaving the

longing (rasa) behind. But his longing also leaves him, on "seeing" the

Supreme (Self)."(Chap.2-Verse.59-B.G)

 

A sense of compulsive repetition for a pleasant past experience is called

"rasa" - a taste that is inscribed and imbibed in the mind. Such a "want" is

considered as a source of happiness in life. In the name of spirituality and

religion to suppress such "rasa" by the practice of "sense-control" and

"self-denial" without pursuing knowledge of Self (Atma-gnanam) does not speak

for the maturity or freedom from wants. The conditional withdrawal and

involvement based on moods and situation is not the freedom, which is born of

Self-knowledge.

 

What is to be known/understood is that "I am That" (tat param-aham eva). The

enlightened mind having understood that "atma is ananda rasa" is independent

of everything for its sense of satisfaction/security. There is no more

seeking for this wise one. With reference to his interpretative mind, the

wise man is called peaceful-silent-truthful and when the mind is not referred

to, his Self is Peace-Silence-Truth. Therefore to be "Silence" you do not

need a mind but to be silent you need a mind.

 

This creation as a whole is meant for revealing this fundamental principle -

Silence. As a conscious being there are two different states that you may

accept in life. Be an accomplished one - Siddha/Sage - or be a Sadhak (seeker

of Truth). Siddha is a mirror for that Silence and the sadhak is the one who

loves to "look in" until he too becomes such a mirror.

 

The mind that abides so is a controlled mind. Neither absence nor a busy

schedule of activity determines one's maturity. The love for Truth and the

necessity to own it as the essence of life will give you the clarity on your

discipline. In fact that clarity itself is the culmination of discipline.

 

(Excerpted from Swamiji's talks - published in Mind and Serenity-1984)