Control of thoughts

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Control of thoughts

 

" Our thoughts are precious. They are our very own property and cannot be taken

from us " .- P.K Shaw.

 

Thoughts play havoc with our mind when the mind is unrestrained. When we do not

control our thoughts, it keeps feasting on everything that the senses come up

and dwell upon it. Training our mind is not easy. Vedanta says that we can

master the mind and through repeated practice, we can make the mind our servant

rather than being its victim. The mind can be made pure by constantly focusing

on the values and actions that are prescribed in the sacred scriptures. This

involves integrating all the senses and actions in an acceptable manner in order

to achieve the spiritual goal. One needs to discard any thought that is

undesirable and only feed those thoughts that are good to the mind. In chapter 6

of Satcharitha, Hemadpant refers to Baba's advise to his devotees and Baba says,

" fix the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not wander elsewhere,

towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peaceful and carefree. This

is the sign of the mind,

being well engaged in good company. If the mind is vagrant, it cannot be called

well-merged. "

 

Meditation helps in control of mind. Meditation is loving recollection of God,

mental discrimination, and is an essential balance to selfless action. Initially

one finds all thoughts crowding the mind at once and difficult for a man to

concentrate on God either in nirgun or sagun akaar. But constant discipline and

sticking to the path of godliness and focusing on the positive aspects of life

one realizes the path towards happiness. It does not mean that spirituality and

control of mind is restricted to those who have severed all the relationship in

the world and lead celibate life. That is a wrong concept. In fact, any person

leading a normal family life can control his mind and attain happiness.

 

When mind is not allowed to covet other man's property, wife, children and

indulge in sensual thoughts and intoxicating drinks and discriminate between

what is appropriate behavior then such mind is happy and in control. As we are

the masters of our thought we do not crave for things that don't belong to us,

and harm our thought process by neglecting our family when all the members of

the family are happy so also we are happy, calm and composed and the divinity

within shines forth without too much of exertion. Katha Upanishad reiterates

this fact " The Self cannot be gained by the study of Vedas, nor by intellect,

nor by much learning. He, whom the Self chooses, but by him It is gained. To him

the Self reveals Its nature " .

 

Let us make a regular practice to keep time for meditation in order to create a

habit; it's also helpful to have a regular place for meditation that is quiet,

clean, and tranquil. And most important let us invoke the blessings of our Guru

to start this stage of purification of mind.