*The mind* can be controlled by untiring perseverance and patience equal to
that of one engaged in emptying the ocean, drop by drop, with the tip of a
blade of grass.
A bird laid its eggs on the seashore. The waves came in and washed away the
eggs. The bird became very angry. It wanted to empty the ocean with its
beak. It applied all its energy in emptying the ocean. The king of the
birds pitied its condition and came to its help. Narada, the peace-making
Rishi, also came and gave some advice to the bird. When the king of the
ocean saw all these, he was very much terrified. He brought back all the
eggs of the bird and handed them over to the bird with apology and
prostrations. Sadhakas (aspirants), who are attempting to control the mind,
should have the same asinine patience and untiring perseverance as that of
the bird which attempted to empty the ocean with its small beak.
You must have the knack or the pluck or the aptitude to tame the mind. To
tame a lion or a tiger is far easier than taming one's own mind. Tame your
own mind first. Then you can take the minds of others quite easily.
Mind Is The Cause Of Bondage And Liberation
Mind is the cause of bondage and salvation of man. "Mana eva manushyanam
karanam bandhamokshayoh"-The mind has two aspects-one is discriminative and
the other is imaginative. Mind, in its aspect of discrimination, releases
itself from the bondage and attains Moksha. In its aspect of imagination,
it binds itself to the world.
It is the mind which binds a man to this world; where there is no mind,
there is no bondage. Mind imagines, through indiscrimination and ignorance,
that the soul has been confined and located in this body and hence it
perceives the soul to be in bondage. Mind exactly identifies itself with
the Jivatman and feels itself to be 'I' and hence thinks, 'I am in
bondage.' The egoistic mind is the root of bondage. The non-egoistic mind
is the root of Moksha.
Destroy Mind Through Mind
The sovereign specific presented by the wise sages for the eradication of
the mind's disease can be had easily through the mind alone. The
intelligent cleanse a dirty cloth with the dirty earth only. A murderous
Agni-Astra (missile) is counteracted by Varuna-Astra. The venom of
serpent-bite is removed by its antidote of an edible poison. So also is the
case with Jiva. Having developed discrimination, destroy the delusions of
the heterogeneous mind through the one-pointed Manas, like an iron severing
another iron.
Purify The Mind
You must be saved from the malformation and the miscarriage of your mind.
Mind is like a playful child. The clamant energies of the mind must be bent
to become the passive channels for the transmission of truth. The mind must
be filled with Sattva (purity). It should be trained to think of Truth or
God constantly.
The Yoga system requires us to go through a course of mental and spiritual
discipline. The Upanishads also emphasise the practice of austere virtues
before the goal can be reached. Tapas destroys sins, weakens the Indriyas,
purifies the Chitta and leads to Ekagrata (one-pointedness of mind).
The penances will give you mental quiet and remove the restlessness of the
mind which is a great obstacle to knowledge. The life of celibacy
(Brahmacharya), where you will have no family attachment to perturb your
mind, would enable you to give whole-hearted attention to your spiritual
Sadhana. If you practise Satya and Brahmacharya, you will become fearless
(Nirbhaya). You will eventually realise Brahman also. Get hold of one thing
firmly with leech-like tenacity. Sraddha or faith is necessary.
Arsenic, when purified and administered in proper doses, is a blessing. It
removes many diseases. It improves the blood. When it is not purified
properly and given in overdoses, it brings about many ill-effects. Even so,
when the mind is rendered pure and Nirvishaya, it leads on to Moksha. When
it is impure and Vishayasakta (fond of sensual objects), it leads on to
bondage.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will have Darshan of the Lord. The
heart must be pure. The eye also must be chaste in its look. There is a
tongue in the eye. A lustful eye wants to taste the different types of
beauty for its selection. Lust of the eyes is as dangerous as lust of the
flesh. Beauty of nature emanates from the Lord. Train the eye properly. Let
it see Atman everywhere.
The Yogic methods give directions as to how you should purify and refine
the mind and improve the mirror and keep it clean by getting rid of the
impurities such as lust, anger, greed, vanity, jealousy, etc. The aim of
Dana, Japa, Vrata, Tirtha-Yatra, Seva, Daya, Svadhyaya, Agnihotra, Yajna is
purification of the mind.
The Sermon on the Mount by Lord Jesus is the essence of Raja-Yogic Yama
practice. It is difficult to put the teachings into practice. But, if they
are put into practice, mind can be easily controlled.
This is the summary of the Sermon:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted."
"Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth."
"Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they
shall be filled."
"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy."
"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."
"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of
God."
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceedingly glad; for great is the reward in heaven; for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before you."
"But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
"And if any man shall sue thee in the law and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also."
"Love your enemies as thyself, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you."
Before you go to work daily, study once carefully this Sermon of Lord Jesus
in the morning and remember the teachings once or twice during the course
of the day. In course of time, you will be able to regulate your emotions
and moods, cultivate virtue and eradicate vice. You will have immense peace
and will-force.
The spiritual path is rugged, thorny and precipitous. Sruti declares:
"Kshurasya dhara nisita duratyaya durgam pathastat kavayo vadanti,-The path
is as sharp as the edge of a razor and impassable; that path, the
intelligents say, is hard to go by." The thorns must be weeded out with
patience and perseverance. Some of the thorns are internal; some are
external. Lust, greed, wrath, delusion, vanity, etc., are the internal
thorns. Company with the evil-minded persons is the worst of all the
external thorns. Therefore, shun ruthlessly evil company.
Do Good And Introspect
Do always virtuous actions. Watch the mind and see what it is doing. These
two methods are quite sufficient to control the mind.
Awaken your spiritual Samskaras by Satsanga, Japa, etc. Protect them.
Develop them. Nourish them. Vichara, Sadhana, Nididhyasana, Satsanga will
all pave a long way in the control of the mind and the attainment of Moksha.
Introspect. Have an inner life always. Let a portion of the mind and hands
do their work mechanically. An acrobat girl, while exhibiting her
performances, has her attention riveted on the water-pot she bears on her
head although all the time she is dancing to various tunes. So does truly
pious man attend to all his business concerns, but has his mind's eye fixed
upon the blissful feet of the Lord. This is Karma-Yoga and Jnana-Yoga
combined. This will lead to integral development. This is balance. This is
synthetic Yoga. Some Vedantins have one-sided development. This is not good.
Do Kirtan
A serpent is very fond of music. If you sing Punnagavarali tune
melodiously, the serpent will come in front of you. Mind also is like a
serpent. It likes melodious tunes very much. It can be entrapped very
easily by sweet sounds.
Fix the mind on the sweet Anahata sounds that emanate from the heart by
closing the ears. It can be controlled quite easily by this method. This is
Laya-Yoga. The Ganika Pingala fixed her mind on the "Rama, Rama" sound
uttered by the parrot and attained Bhava-Samadhi. Ramaprasad of Bengal, a
famous Bhakta, controlled the mind through music. Music exercises a
tremendous, soothing influence on a ruffled mind. In America, doctors use
music in curing many diseases, particularly of nervous origin. Music
elevates the mind also.
Kirtan, which is one of the nine forms of worship (Navavidha Bhakti) causes
Bhava-Samadhi (union with God through Bhava or feeling). It is prevalent
throughout India. It corresponds to the singing of hymns by Christians.
Ramaprasad realised God through Kirtan. His songs are very famous in
Bengal. In this Kali-Yuga or Iron Age, Kirtan is an easy way to
God-realisation. Sing the Name of Hari constantly. Praise constantly His
qualities. You will have Darshan of Hari. Those who can sing well should
retire to a solitary place and sing heartily with Suddha Bhava. In course
of time, they will enter into Bhava-Samadhi. There is no doubt about t.
Always Think Of God
CONSTANTLY THINK OF GOD. YOU CAN VERY EASILY CONTROL THE MIND. Even if you
think of Lord Vishnu or Siva only once, even if you once form a mental
image of these deities, the Sattvic material will increase a bit. If you
think a crore of times, your mind will be filled with a large quantity of
Sattva. Constant thinking of God thins out the mind and destroys the
Vasanas and Sankalpas.
When you fix your mind on Lord Krishna in the lotus of your heart, your
attention is fixed on the figure of Lord Krishna. When the attention is
fixed, the spiritual current is started. When you meditate, the flow of the
current becomes steady and when the meditation gets very deep and intense,
'Union' (Samadhi) takes place. You become one with the Lord. All Sankalpas
and Vikalpas stop. There is complete 'Chitta-Vritti-Nirodha' (restraint of
the modifications of the mind).
Practise Pranayama
To bring about control of mind, two things are essential, viz.,
Prana-Nirodha (control of Prana) and Sanga-Tyaga (renunciation of Sanga or
association). By the latter is meant dissociation, not with the world, but
only with the longing after or the attraction towards the objects of the
world.
Pranayama or control of breath checks the velocity of the mind and reduces
the quantity of thinking. It removes the dross (impurities) in the form of
Rajas and Tamas from the mind.
For control of the mind, Kumbhaka (retention of breath) is indispensable.
You will have to practise Kumbhaka daily. You will have to practise Puraka,
Kumbhaka and Rechaka (inhalation, retention and exhalation of breath)
regularly and rhythmically. Then the mind will become Ekagra. The period of
Kumbhaka will increase by systematic practice, with regulated diet and
proper dietetic disciplin (light, nutritious, Sattvic food). This is the
Hathayogic method. The practice of Kumbhaka must be done under the guidance
of a Guru who is a developed Yogin.
Practise Sama And Dama
Uparati of mind (calmness) comes through the practice of Sama and Dama.
Sama is the calmness of mind induced by the eradication of Vasanas.
Vasana-Tyaga (renunciation of desires) through discrimination constitutes
the practice of Sama, one of the sixfold virtues (Shatsampatti). If a
desire arises in your mind, do not give way to it. This will become the
practice of Sama. Sama is keeping the mind in the heart by Sadhana. Sama is
restraint of the mind by not allowing it to externalise or objectify. The
restraint of the external activities and the Indriyas is the practice of
Dama (Bahyavrittinigraha).
If you renounce the desire for eating mangoes, it is Sama. If you do not
allow the feet to carry you to the bazaar to purchase the mangoes, if you
do not allow the eyes to see the mangoes and if you do not allow the tongue
to taste them, it is Dama.
A desire arises to eat sweets. You do not allow the feet to move to the
bazaar to purchase the sweets. You do not allow the tongue to eat the
sweets. You do not allow the eyes to see the sweets also. This kind of
restraint of the Indriyas is termed Dama.
It is termed Sama when you do not allow any thought to arise in the mind
concerning sweets by eradication of Vasanas (Vasana-Tyaga). This
eradication of the Vasanas can be accomplished through Vichara,
Brahma-Chintana, Japa, Dhyana, Pranayama, etc.
Sama is an internal restraint. Dama is a restraint of the Indriyas. Though
the practice of Sama includes the practice of Dama, as the Indriyas will
not move and work without the help of the mind, yet the practice of Dama is
necessary. The practice of Dama should go hand in hand with Sama. Sama
alone will not suffice. You must attack the enemy, desire, from within and
without. Then alone you can control the mind quite easily. Then alone the
mind will be in perfect control.
Develop Vairagya
Those who practise Vairagya are real tamers of their minds. Have no longing
for objects. Avoid them. Vairagya thins out the mind. Vairagya is a drastic
purgative for the mind. The thief-mind shudders and trembles when it hears
the words, 'Vairagya,' 'Tyaga,' 'Sannyasa.' It gets a death-blow when it
hears these three terms.
Destroy all the pleasure-centres of the mind such as frequently eating
dainty dishes, gossiping, sightseeing, music and company of women slowly
and cautiously. Keep up three Sattvic pleasure-centres such as study of
books dealing with Atma-Jnana, meditation and service of humanity. When you
advance in meditation, give up service and study also for some time. After
you have attained Nirvikalpa state, preach, work and distribute divine
knowledge (Jnana Yajna of the Gita, XVIII-70).
Whatever object the mind likes much must be given up. Whatever object the
mind dwells upon constantly, thinks about very often, must be abandoned. If
you like brinjals or apples much, give them up first. You will gain a great
deal of peace, will-power and control of mind.
Suppose you like tea, mangoes, grapes and sweets very much. Make it a point
to renounce them and even the desire for these objects. After some months,
the craving or the hankering will be attenuated and will slowly vanish. You
must be devoting three or four hours daily in proper prayer, Japa and
meditation of God. The above objects which used to attract you before very
much seem very loathsome now. They present the very reverse of your former
feelings. They give you intense pain. This is a sign of true Vairagya
(dispassion) and destruction of the mind.
If all objects which have an enchanting appearance become eyesores and
present the very reverse of the former feelings, then know that the mind is
destroyed. When the mind is changed, the objects which gave you pleasure
before will give you pain. That is the sign of annihilation of the mind.
Things which used to upset you easily will not touch you now. Occasions
which would have made you irritable do not make you so now. You have gained
strength, power and endurance, power of resistance, power to deal with
troubles. Certain unkind words from other people which used to torment you,
no longer give you the trouble now. Even if you become irritable and show
signs of anger, you are able now to compose yourself quickly. These are all
the signs of your gaining mental strength and will-power. Meditation brings
about all these beneficial results.
When there is quiescence in the mind and an indifference in it towards all
enjoyments and when the powerful Indriyas are turned inwards and the Ajnana
of the mind is destroyed, then and then only all the noble words of the
wise Guru will infiltrate and spread in the mind of the disciple, just as
rose-coloured water impinges on a perfectly white cloth.
Have Santosha
The mind is ease-loving, easy-going and happy-go-lucky. You must check this
nature. The desire for ease and comfort is ingrained in the mind. Aspirants
should be very cautious and careful. Do not try to fulfil your desires.
This is one way of controlling the mind.
You must not take back those things which you have once renounced. Whenever
you give up an object, the desire for that particular object becomes keen
and strong for a few days. It agitates your mind. Keep quiet. Stand firm.
It gets thinned out and dies eventually. Whenever the mind hisses to get
back the objects that are rejected, raise the rod of Viveka. It will lower
down its hood. It will keep quiet.
You must not give indulgence or leniency to the mind. If you increase your
wants even by one article, the articles will begin to swell in number.
Luxuries will come one by one. If you allow it to take one luxury today, it
wants two tomorrow. Luxuries will increase daily. It will become like an
over fondled child. Spare the rod and spoil the child; this also applies to
the mind. It is worse than the child. You will have to punish it by fasting
for every serious mistake it makes. Keep the organs in their proper places.
Do not allow them to move an inch. Raise the rod of Viveka whenever an
organ hisses to raise its head. By this practice you will get a
concentrated mind. Those who, without longing for objects, avoid them can
be termed the subjugators of their minds.
Those who are not content with anything that comes in their way are of weak
minds only. Santosha (contentment in the mind) is a very great virtue.
"Santosham paramam labham-by contentment, you will have great gain." It is
one of the four sentinels of the vast domain of Moksha. If you have this
virtue, it will lead to the attainment of Satsanga (association with the
wise), Vichara (enquiry of Self) and Santi (peace).
When you do not want to store things for tomorrow, it is called "Asangraha
Buddhi." It is the mental state of a true Sannyasin. A Sannyasin has no
thought of tomorrow; whereas a householder has, on the opposite, Sangraha
Buddhi. We must be as free as a lark which has no "Sangraha Buddhi."
Take Everything As It Comes
Take everything as it comes, instead of complaining. By this means, one
seizes every opportunity. One develops easily, gains a great deal of mental
strength and evenness of mind. Irritability vanishes. Power of endurance
and patience will develop.
If you have to live amidst noise, do not complain about it, but profit from
it. One may make use of outer disturbances for the practice of
concentration. You must develop the power to work undisturbed by whatever
may happen nearby. The power comes with practice and it is then useful in a
variety of ways. To learn to work under different conditions means progress
and a great deal of mental control.
Have Recourse To Satsanga
Without being impressed with a clear idea of the nature of the mind, you
cannot bridle it. A sublime thought checks the mind and a base idea excites
it. It is necessary for a man to keep company with spiritual men and to
avoid the company of the dregs of society.
Company of spiritual persons and good environments play a tremendous part
in the elevation of the mind. Satsanga helps a long way in the attainment
of Moksha. There is no other way. It thoroughly overhauls the mind and
changes the current and its Rajasic nature. It removes the old
Vishaya-Samskaras and fills the mind with Sattvic Samskaras. It destroys
the three fires-Adhyatmic, Adhibhautic and Adhidaivika Tapa-and cools the
Antahkarana. It destroys Moha. If you can have Satsanga, you need not go to
any Tirtha. It is Tirtha of Tirthas. Wherever there is Satsanga, the sacred
Triveni is already there.
Annihilate this mind of Ajnana (ignorance) through the power of constant
association with holy men (Satsanga). In the absence of positive good
company, have negative good company of books written by realised persons
and books dealing with Atma-Jnana (spiritual knowledge) such as Sri
Sankara's works, Yoga Vasishtha, Sri Dattatreya's Avadhuta Gita, the
Upanishads, the Brahma-Sutras, Atma-Purana,
Sarva-Vedanta-Siddhanta-Sara-Sangraha, Sri Sankaracharya's
Aparokshanubhuti, etc., etc. *{swami sivananda}*
K RAJARAM IRS 10 2 26
On Mon, 9 Feb 2026 at 21:13, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> Short Story – Turning the Mind Within
>
> The direction of the mind which always runs after the senses has to be
> turned within. The mind has to be killed. This was a Lesson I learned as
> quoted by Swami Vivekanada and reading the same how this will result of
> turning the Mind within self I imagined a story and sharing now
>
> One day, I was casually admiring a grand and beautiful sight. Its charm
> drew me in, and I thought it was only meant to be enjoyed. But I failed to
> see the hidden danger behind that beauty.
>
> Another force, equally attracted by the same beauty, suddenly attacked it.
> What I thought was harmless and delightful was destroyed before my eyes.
> The very beauty that fascinated me turned into a source of danger.
>
> That moment taught me: outward attractions can deceive. What shines
> outside may hide harm within. The mind that constantly runs after the
> senses is easily trapped by such illusions.
>
> Moral
> “The direction of the mind which always runs after the senses has to be
> turned within. The mind has to be killed.”
>
>
> *N Jambunathan , Chennai " What you get by achieving your goals is not as
> important as what you become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a
> happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
>
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