Treacherous Mind

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TREACHEROUS MIND

 

by Swami Sivananda

 

Mind is very treacherous. It will hurl you down into the abyss of

ignorance. It will say: " Pitva pitva punar pitva punar janma na

vidyate " . (Drink, drink again, there is no rebirth). It will

say: " Give up sadhana (spiritual practice), you will not gain

anything. There is no bliss beyond the senses. The world is real,

there is nothing like sensual pleasure, enjoy it to your heart's

content. "

 

Hear not this voice of the mind. Swim against the mind-current. Mind

is your bitter enemy. Disconnect your self from the mind - stand as

its silent witness. Do not become one with the mind and the senses.

Practise introspection and self-analysis. Thus will the mind

gradually be tamed. It will become your obedient servant.

 

Sensual pleasures are nectar in the beginning but they are venom in

the end. Here is a way to thin out the mind, a way to control it. If

the mind says, " Eat eggs and meat " , eat only spinach, fruits and

milk. If the mind says, " Read novels and newspapers " , read only the

Gita, the Upanishads and practise karma yoga. If the mind

says, " Gamble; practise vigil and do kirtan the whole night.

 

O truant mind: O mischievous imp: I am tired of giving you

admonitions. You are like the shameless son-in-law who sits idly in

the house of his father-in-law, eating and drinking, and bearing all

the rebukes and broom beatings it is difficult to control the mind

without the grace of the Lord. The prompter of thoughts alone can

subjugate this wild mind. My prostrations and adorations to the

prompter.

 

Listen O mind, to this piece of advice. Sink not in the mire of

samsara (worldly life), in the perilous ocean of births and deaths.

Mix thou not in mundane affairs. Eat not the fruits of pain and

sorrow. Take not birth again and again. Wither not thyself in wicked

deeds. Is not eternal bliss thy quest? Commune with the Lord of bliss

now. Forget the body and its connections and rest peacefully in

blissful joy. Abide in thy supreme abode. Now there will be an end of

birth.

 

Desire not name, fame, prestige, position, title, honour, rank. Care

not, O mind, for earthly affection, love and kind words, respect,

nice clothes and dainty dishes, the company of damsels and their

talk. Remain steadfast. Gaze on the Lord dwelling in the cave of thy

heart - He who is thy refuge, thy solace, source and centre, the

witness and the abode, the Lord and dissolution.

 

(Source: http://sivanandaonline.org/html/ )