Inquiries Into the Absolute: Digest 146, How to clear the mind and

[Guest guest]

Digest 146, December 6th, 2005. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

**You are welcome to send in your questions to HH Romapada Swami at

iskcondc with the word "Question" included in the subject line.

 

 

How to clear the mind and bring it back to focus on Krsna?

**********************************************************

 

Q) I am trying to be more conscious about my daily activities and thoughts so

that they are centered on Krishna, but it is not easy. I find myself thinking

or daydreaming about how I can enjoy separate from Krishna. When I bring my

thoughts back to Krishna my mind feels so much clearer. How can I keep my

thoughts on the right track?

 

I really want to clean out my mind. I feel like there is so much garbage

cluttered there from the past few years. Sometimes it is really overwhelming.

I want to focus on Krishna and not on sense gratification but that desire sense

gratification keeps creeping back! Please describe a practical way that I can

control my mind and be a better devotee.

 

Answer) Cleansing the mind and training it to think of Krishna takes constant

and vigilant practice - so please do not be dissuaded or discouraged for having

to make a strong effort to achieve this. What you are doing is on the right

track and is recommended by Krishna -- "From wherever the mind wanders due to

its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it

back under the control of the self." (BG 6.26)

 

The sadhana stage is one of deliberate effort and cultivation. A sadhaka has

some attraction for Krishna but it is not yet strong and mature. That spark of

attachment has to be, therefore, constantly kindled and nurtured by the process

of hearing, chanting and remembering until it becomes a steady, blazing fire.

 

To replace thoughts centered on matter, deliberately shift the focus of those

thoughts to Krishna. Cultivate the habit of contemplating on those desires you

do have in relation to Krishna --- "In what specific ways would I like to serve

Guru and Krishna", or "What are some things I can do to improve the quality of

my chanting tomorrow morning", or "How can I accomplish this instruction in a

manner pleasing to my spiritual master", and so on. Another enlivening

meditation is contemplating on the wonderful qualities of Krishna and the

acharyas, their mercy upon us and remembrance of their instructions. This

exercise of the mind should be done repeatedly and daily without flagging, as

many times as it takes to fix the mind on Krishna. Some devotees practice by

writing down relevant instructions & realizations and regularly reviewing them

from time to time, even several times during the course of the day.

 

Moreover, remembrance is made possible by and consequent to quality hearing and

chanting. Therefore, we should do everything in our power -- mold our lives in

such a way -- so as to give quality time and undivided attention to these two

activities viz. hearing or study of scriptures and chanting, on a daily basis.

As the Bhagavatam says, for those who are engaged in eagerly hearing the

messages of Krishna which are virtuous in themselves, the Lord Himself being

seated in their hearts will personally cleanse the desire for sense enjoyment.

(Please read SB 1.2.17 and purport)

 

The desire for sense-gratification is deeply ingrained in us due to our long

association with matter in so many species of life. But by hearing about

Krishna from His pure devotees we quickly develop attachment to Him. In fact,

it is through association that we develop attachment of any kind. Bhagavad-gita

graphically illustrates this idea: by associating with the sense-objects or

those who take pleasure in sense-objects, we begin to contemplate on those

objects and become attached; we imbibe their materialistic values and rest our

hopes for happiness on these desires. (BG 2.62, 63) Conversely, by associating

with saintly persons and hearing from them submissively, the nature of our

contemplation can be changed. When we hear of the happiness derived from

Krishna's reciprocation with His devotees, naturally our hopes for enjoyment

from matter pales and slackens.

 

This positive cultivation is much more effective and is emphasized more than

battling alone to get rid of unwanted desires. Needless to say, the mind is

very treacherous and therefore we should be wary of inauspicious thoughts and

keep them far distant, but side by side if we are actively engaged in nurturing

the positive, automatically thoughts of sense-gratification will have no room

to enter.

 

 

-----

This digest on the web:

http://iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/renderphilo.pl?digestname=digest146

 

All previous digests in one file (with responses to about 400 questions):

http://iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/renderphilo.pl?digestname=digest00

 

Responses to Some Frequently Asked Questions (Karma, free-will, demigods, Lord

Siva, why are we here, how to control the mind, Deity worship, marriage, Jesus

Christ, spiritual and material relationships and morality of Lord Krsna's

conjugal pastimes, spiritual master, spirit soul/jiva/living entity):

http://www.iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/renderphilo.pl?digestname=digest999_faq

 

To , or change/add your email address please send email to

iskcondcr Please reply to this email at iskcondcr if you

choose to discontinue receiving these digests. If you have received the

"Inquiries Into the Absolute" digests despite requesting removal in the past,

please let us know immediately by emailing us at iskcondcr These

functions are currently not available at the ISKCON DC website or by emailing

admin (AT) iskcondc (DOT) org.

-----

** A brief biography of His Holiness Romapada Swami is available at:

http://www.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl?ndx=2

** This and all previous digests are available on the web** They can be

accessed at: http://www.iskcondc.org -> Inquiries into the Absolute

http://www.iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/renderphilo.pl?ndx=132

ISKCON DC Philosophy Website:

http://www.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl

Related Sites: http://www.romapadaswami.com, http://www.caitanya.com

-----

 

This email has been sent to you by the ISKCON temple of Washington D.C. Our

contacts are:

Email: iskcondcr

Web Address: http://www.iskcondc.org

Postal Address: 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, MD 20854-393