Control of Mind

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Life in this physical plane is a mere preparation for the eternal

life of everlasting sunshine and joy which is to come when one gets

knowledge of the Self through intense and constant meditation after

purifying the mind. This immortal life of supreme joy is described as

the 'Kingdom of Heaven' in the Bible. That Kingdom of Heaven is

within you, in your heart. Realise this Immortal Life, O Susil! by

controlling the mind, and enjoy the Supreme Bliss of the Self.

 

The secrets of Yoga Sastra can only be imparted to that student who

is Jita-Indriya and Abhyasa-sura, who has devotion to Guru, who has

Vairagya, discrimination, who is firm in his determination and who

has strong conviction in the existence of God.

 

The mind is single, but it appears dual in dreaming state as the

perceiver and the perceived, through the power of Maya or illusion.

The mind itself takes the forms of rose, mountain, elephant, rivers,

ocean, enemy, etc. Just as heat is inseparable from fire, so also

fluctuation is inseparable from mind. It makes the mind restless. The

fluctuation is caused by the power of Rajas. It is the fluctuation

that causes Asanti (absence of peace of mind). The Bhaktas remove

this tossing by Japa, Upasana and worship of Ishtadevata.

 

The power of fluctuation is itself the mind. This fluctuating mind

alone is this world. The mind becomes no mind if fluctuation

disappears. The mind ceases to exist, if it becomes destitute of this

fluctuation. What is called Maya is this fluctuating potency of the

mind. Mind does havocs through the power of fluctuation. Fluctuation

is Mara or Satan or Vasana or Eshana or Trishna. It was this

fluctuation that tempted Visvamitra. It is this fluctuation that

brings about the downfall of a struggling aspirant. Destroy this

fluctuation through strong Viveka, constant meditation and ceaseless

Brahma-Vichara.

 

As soon as fluctuation manifests itself various sorts of imaginations

crop up. Imagination co-exists with fluctuation. Imagination is as

much dangerous as fluctuation. Fluctuation moves the mind.

Imagination fattens the mind. Mind minus fluctuation and imagination

is a mere zero. Fluctuation and imagination are the two wings of the

mind-bird. Cut the right wing through Atmic enquiry and the left wing

through the practice of thoughtlessness. The great bird-mind-will

fall dead on the spot immediately.

 

The one dividing wall between the soul and body is mind. If this wall

is broken by ceaseless Atmic enquiry, then the Jiva mixes with the

Supreme Soul just as the river mixes with the ocean.

 

Close your eyes. Meditate. Open your heart to the inflow of the

invisible power. You will find in the Bible " Empty thyself, I will

fill thee " . Then you will have abundant, superintuitional knowledge

which is beyond the reach of intellect. Just as water freely flows

when the tap is turned so also Divine Wisdom will flow freely when

the obstacles of ignorance that stand in the way of knowledge are

removed. You will get flashes, glimpses of the Divine inspiration,

revelation and intuition. You will have to put yourself in a state of

quietude by silencing all bubbling thoughts and emotions and connect

the mind with the source by withdrawing the mind from sensual

objects, just as you do in telephone by turning the switch off and

connecting the two persons who want to speak.

 

All duality is of mind. The whole of duality is caused by the

imagination of the mind. If all imaginations are withdrawn into the

mind itself by constant practice of discrimination, Vairagya

(dispassion), Sama, Dama, and Samadhana, you will not experience the

dual universe. The mind will become no mind. As it has nothing to

cognise, it will rest in the source, the Atman.

 

" My mind was elsewhere, I did not see " . " My mind was elsewhere, I did

not hear " ; for a man sees with his mind and hears with his mind.

 

The attraction for objects and the ties of various sorts make the man

bound to this world. Renunciation of all attractions for objects and

breaking up the ties constitute real Sannyasa. That Sannyasi or Yogi

who is free from attraction and ties enjoys the infinite bliss,

supreme joy and eternal bliss.

 

The mind should be absorbed in the word Om (Pranava). That Yogi or

Jnani whose mind is absorbed in Om has no fear whatever. He has

reached the goal of life.

 

The fire of meditation rapidly consumes all evils and sins. Then

there follows that knowledge of Truth which confers perfections,

everlasting peace and immortality.

 

Stop the Vrittis through constant and steady practice. The mind will

become no mind. You will attain Yogarudha State (the Absolute state).

The seeds of Avidya in the form of potential tendencies which are

embedded in the mind are all burnt to ashes when the mind rests in

the Truth during Samadhi. The fire that burns is the fire of

knowledge of Atman (Jnana-Agni, Yoga-Agni).

 

When the Yogi has attained the last stage of meditation, when he has

entered into Asamprajnata Samadhi, he becomes a Jivanmukta in this

very life.

 

The fire of Yogic Samadhi burns all Samskaras in toto. There are now

no seeds for rebirth.

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)