The Pure and the Impure Mind
Divine Life
Society Publication: Lectures on Yoga and Vedanta by Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj
The Sanskrit term for mind is
Manas. Manas is said to be of two kinds, the pure and the impure. That which is
associated with the thought of desire is the impure, while that which is
without desire is the pure. The pure mind is otherwise known by the name higher
mind. The impure mind is called lower mind. To men, their mind alone is the
cause of bondage or emancipation. That mind which is attracted by objects of
sense tends to bondage, while that which is not attracted tends to
emancipation. There is said to be salvation for a mind without a desire for
sensual objects. An aspirant after emancipation should therefore render his
mind ever free from all longing after material objects.
The impure mind or Ashuddha
Manas is filled with impure Vasanas (tendencies in the mind), Rajas and Tamas
and the pure mind or Shuddha Manas is filled with pure Vasanas and Sattva. The
impure Vasanas generate rebirths. The pure mind with pure Vasanas leads to
Moksha or liberation from births and deaths. The worldly-minded persons work
with the lower or the impure mind. They are bound by their Karmas. The
liberated sages work with the pure or Sattvic mind (higher mind). They are not
bound by their Karmas as they have no egoism and as they do not expect fruits
for their actions.
The impure mind is unsteady.
It ever fluctuates. It jumps from one object to another. It ever hankers after
sensual objects. It is filled with various sorts of fears and pains. The pure
mind is steady. It does Brahma Vichara. It rests in Supreme Self. It does not
move towards sensual objects. It is free from all sorts of fears and pains.
The impure mind is no other
than the Vasanas (subtle desires) that generate countless births. The mind
becomes a prey to various kinds of desires through its fluctuation. Fluctuation
is caused by Rajas and Vikshepa Shakti. When the mind fluctuates, it wanders
from one object to another object.
The Ajnani or worldly minded
man is swayed by the impure mind. He acts according to the dictates of the
lower or impure mind. But a sage or Jnani keeps his mind under his perfect
control. He acts in accordance with the voice of his intuition.
Just as a washerman removes
dirt through dirt, just as a traveller removes the thorn in his foot through
another thorn, so also the impure mind should be slain by the pure mind.
He who has annihilated the
lower or the impure mind drives away rebirths to a great distance from him. The
pure Vasanas with which the sage performs actions cannot produce rebirths for
him.
All impure Vasanas are fried
in toto when you get knowledge of the Self or Brahma Jnana. Meditation, Japa,
Kirtan, practice of Pranayama, Brahma Vichara, study of religious books and
Satsanga generate pure Vasanas.
When the mind is freed from
the desires for objects and when it rests in the Self or Atman, you will enjoy Eternal
Bliss. When the mind is freed from all cravings or longing for objects, when it
is controlled in the heart, when it attains the reality of the Atman, you will
attain Moksha or the final beatitude of life.
O beloved Ram! Do not allow
your mind to fluctuate. Render your mind ever free from all longings after
material objects. Annihilate the impure or lower mind with the help of the pure
or the higher mind and transcend the higher mind also. May you be as firm as a
rock! May you be endowed with the pure or Sattvic mind! May you ever rest
peacefully in the All-blissful Self!
Excerpts from:
The Pure and the Impure Mind - Lectures on Yoga and Vedanta
by
Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji MaharajArchives - Blog
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