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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Meditation helps control one's mind

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 5. Meditation can be described broadly as

liberation from the clutches of the lower senses and mind. It is

an aid that makes a man acquire spiritual knowledge and

experience Divine bliss. Without it, a person cannot get himself

out of the trammels of the mind, which is an elusive animal to

tame. Meditation is the practice by which there is constant

observation of the mind. But controlling the mind is extremely

difficult as, like the wind, it travels very fast. But this is

not an impossible task as explained by the Lord Himself in the

Gita.

 

The agitated Arjuna addresses Krishna thus: ``You have told me

that the fickle mind should be subdued by conscientious

intelligence but the former is unsteady, impetuous, powerfully

defiant and unrelenting. To keep it under control is as difficult

as to check the wayward wind.'' The Lord replied that by constant

practice and dogged pursuit, the mind can be steadied. ``I am

attainable by deep contemplation and undivided attention coupled

with intense practice.''

 

Adi Sankara, in his ``Sivananda Lahari'', also refers to the

unsteadiness of the mind but that it should be purified of dirt.

There must be perfect coordination between the chanting of the

name and meditation using the former as a vehicle. One should

visualise God of one's choice by the name which is chosen to

invoke His presence.

 

Sri Krishnananda Theertha, Head of the Sakatapuram Sri Vidya

Peetam (Math), in a discourse, explained the story of a king who

retired to seclusion to meditate. At that time, a woman was

hurriedly moving about in that place, unmindful of his presence,

in search of her missing husband. After some time, she returned

with him, both in a joyful mood. The king's meditation was

disturbed and he decided to punish her for her impudence. ``I

have not done any mistake as my entire concern was to locate my

husband who was a deaf-mute. On the other hand, you were supposed

to meditate oblivious to all surroundings but how did you notice

my movements? This means you had allowed your mind to go

astray'', the woman said. The King regretted his action.

 

Likewise, a person was worshipping God at home but his attention

was on the cobbler who was due to repair his shoes before leaving

for his work. When someone from his office came in search of him,

his wife said ``He has gone out to cobbler's shop''. The husband

was furious that while he was physically present in the house she

had given a wrong information. ``But what I said is true. Though

you were supposed to meditate, your mind was away''. God will

bless us if we become duly eligible for His grace.

 

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