Self Control: Forcible or Gradual

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The mind is like a giant, sleeping. You rouse it by pranayama, which

is forcible, but the motivation to proceed has not developed. It

lacks the longing for Truth and love of God. What will you do with

such a mind that has been roused? It will rise up against you and

destroy you. So don't rouse the mind. Swami Vivekananda said, " A mind

that has been roused a little is very dangerous. Once it is roused,

you have to keep it going. If not, it will finish you. " Through

prayer, austerity and reason you build platforms so when reactions

come you will not fall deep into the lower pit but will be held by

the platforms.

 

So we must not try to hasten to rouse the mind by forcing it for it

may prove self-destructive. True spiritual practice is prayer,

contemplation and worship. As the mind begins to move upwards, we

build platforms. Vedanta believes in gradual control so that the mind

does not rebel. Its process is the way of least resistance. Vedanta

prescribes the practice of silence, not restraint of speech. Solitude

is interior, not external - the real posture in which the mind flows

towards Brahman spontaneously. Absorption in Brahman is real

meditation. It is achieved by directing the mind towards Brahman, not

fixing the mind on the tip of the nose.

 

Absorption of the mind in the Atman, knowing that It alone abides, is

called withdrawal. Steadiness in dwelling on the thought of Brahman

is called concentration. All obstacles are overcome only by

dissolving the mind in the ocean of the Infinite Self. By thinking of

the object of the mind, the mind gets identified with it. By thinking

of a void, it really becomes blank, and by thinking of Brahman it

attains to perfection.

 

So we must know that to change habits, we must proceed slowly. There

is no use in imitation or taking up gimmicks. We tend to think we

should be doing everything quickly because we live in an age where

patience is rare. The " gimmick " in Vedanta is humble prayer, aligning

oneself to be the receptacle of divine consciousness, not mere lip-

service. Through prayer, worship and holy company we can maintain a

balance in our lives that will prepare us for real spiritual life.