Mind-Control
Two things are necessary for
attaining success in mind-control, viz., practice (Abhyasa) and dispassion
(Vairagya).
You must try your level best
to be free from any desire for any pleasure, seen or unseen, and this
dispassion can be attained through constant perception of evil in them.
Dispassion is renunciation of attainment. It is aversion to sensual enjoyments
herein and hereafter. The detachment or dispassion is of two kinds, the lower
and the higher. Vijnana Bhikshu distinguishes the inferior and the superior
types of Vairagya in the following way: "The former is a distaste for the
good things of life, here or hereafter, due to the experience that they cannot
be acquired or preserved without trouble, while their loss causes pain and that
the quest is never free from egoistic feelings. The latter, however, is based
on a clear perception of the difference between intelligence and the objects
that appear in its light."
There are various stages in
dispassion. The determination to refrain from enjoying all sorts of sensual objects
is the first stage. In the second stage certain objects lose their charm for
the spiritual aspirant and he attempts to destroy the attraction for others
also. In the third stage the senses are controlled, but a vague longing for the
sensual enjoyment remains in the mind. In the fourth the aspirant loses
completely all interest whatsoever in the external objects. The final stage is
a state of highest desirelessness. It is this kind of dispassion that bestows
Absolute Independence on the Yogi. In this stage the Yogi renounces all kinds
of psychic powers even such as Omniscience, etc.
It is by practice and
dispassion that the passage of thought towards external objects can be checked.
Mere indifference will not serve the purpose. Practice is also necessary.
Remembering God always is also practice.
Mind is drawn towards external
objects by the force of desire. By convincing oneself of the illusoriness of
sense-objects through an investigation into their nature and by cultivating
indifference to worldly objects, the mind can be restrained and brought back to
the Self to abide finally. By virtue of this practice of Yoga, the Yogi’s mind
attains peace in the Self. Practice consists in constantly repeating the same
idea or thought regarding an object. By constant reflection and exercise of
will-power, suggestions should be given to the subconscious mind not to look
for enjoyment in the changing world without, but in the changeless within. You
should exercise great vigilance to get hold of opportunities, when the mind
dwells on sense-objects, suggest to it new meanings and interpretations and
make it change its attitude towards them with a view to its ultimate withdrawal
there from. This is called practice.
The chief characteristic of
the mind in the waking state is to have some object before it to dwell upon. It
can never remain blank. It can concentrate on one object at a time. It
constantly changes its objects and so it is restless. It is impetuous, strong
and difficult to bend. It is as hard to curb it as the wind. That is the reason
why Patanjali Maharshi says that the practice must be steady and continuous and
it must stretch over a considerable period and be undertaken with a perfect
faith in its regenerating and uplifting powers. You must not show any slackening
symptoms at any stage of practice.
Restraint does not come in a
day, but by long and continued practice with zeal and enthusiasm. The progress
in Yoga can only be gradual. Many people give up the practice of concentration
after some time, when they do not see any tangible prospect of getting psychic
powers. They become impatient. They do little and expect much. This is bad.
Doing any kind of practice by fits and starts will not bring the desired fruit.
Direct experience is the goal of life. Though the effort of practice is painful
in the beginning, yet it brings Supreme Joy in the end. Lord Krishna says to
Arjuna: "Supreme Joy is for this Yogi, whose mind is peaceful, whose
passionate nature is controlled, who is sinless, and of the nature of the eternal!"
(Bhagavad Gita, Ch. VI-27)
"Mind alone is to man the
cause of bondage or liberation; lost in enjoyment, it leads to bondage; freed
from the objective, it leads to liberation. As mind freed from the objective
leads to liberation, one desirous of liberation or success in the path of Yoga
must always try to wipe off the objective from the plane of his mind. When the
mind, severed from all connection with sensual objects and confined to the
light of the heart, finds itself in ecstasy, it is said to have reached its
culminating point. The mind should be prevented from functioning, till its
dissolution is attained in the heart; this is Gnosis, this is concentration,
the rest is all mere logomachy."
Desire may be described as the
hankering for things which gains such mastery over the mind as to preclude even
enquiring into their antecedents and consequences. Man at once becomes that
which he identifies himself with, by force of strong and deep attachment and
loses memory of everything else in the act. The man thus subdued by desire,
fixing his eye on everything and anything, is deluded into believing it as the
real thing. Due to loss of control man perceives everything with beclouded eyes
in this deluded fashion, like one under the influence of a strong intoxicant.
Desire is born of ignorance
(Avidya). Attachment, longing and preference are the constituents of desire. Do
not endeavour to fulfil desires. Try to reduce your desires as best as you can.
Withdraw the fuel of gratification. Then the fire of desire will get
extinguished by itself. Just as a gheeless lamp dies out when the ghee is
withdrawn, even so the fire of desire dies when the fuel of gratification is
withdrawn. If attachment is eradicated then longing and preference for objects
will die by themselves.
Man commits various kinds of
sins and injures others, when he exerts to get the desired objects. He has to
reap the fruits of his actions; hence he is brought again and again in this
round of births and deaths. If you increase one object in the list of your
possessions or wants, the desire also increases ten times. The more worldly
objects you possess, the more distant you are from God. Your mind will always
be thinking and planning as to how to get and guard the objects, how to earn
tons of money and keep them safe. If the acquired objects are lost, your mind
is completely upset. Cares, worries, anxieties, and all sorts of mental
torments increase with the objects.
Free yourself from the tyranny
of the mind. It has tormented you mercilessly for so long a time. You have
allowed it to indulge in sensual pleasures and have its own ways. Now is the
time to curb it, just as you would curb a wild horse. Be patient and
persevering. Practise daily ‘thoughtlessness’ or inhibition of thoughts. The
task may be difficult in the beginning. It will be indeed disgusting and
tiring, but the reward is great. You will reap Immortality, Supreme Joy,
Eternal Peace and Infinite Bliss. Therefore practise diligently in right
earnest. It is worth doing. Be on the alert. If you are sincere in your wish
and strong in your resolve, nothing is impossible under the sun to accomplish.
Nothing can stand in your way.
From the condition of your
mind, from your feelings and conduct, you can very well understand the nature
of your actions in your previous lives and can nullify or counteract the
effects of evil actions by doing good actions, Tapas, discipline and
meditation. Try to lead a life of non-attachment. Discipline your mind
carefully. No one is free from pains, diseases, troubles and difficulties. You
will have to rest in your divine nature. Then alone you will draw strength to
face the difficulties of life. Then only you will have a balanced mind. Then
only you will not be affected by external morbid influences and discordant
vibrations. Regular meditation in the morning will give you new strength and
inner life of joy and bliss. Practise meditation. Feel this joy and bliss
despite unhelpful conditions and adverse circumstances. Gradually you will grow
spiritually. You will attain Self-realisation.
Excerpts from:
If you would like to purchase the print edition, visit:
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
If you would
like to contribute to the dissemination of spiritual knowledge please contact
the General Secretary at:
No comments:
Post a Comment