Mind: How to control it

II

If one is unable to control the mind, what would be the result? Some people take active interest in acquiring knowledge so that they may be able to subjugate the mind. Learning, knowledge, to be over-smart, to make a mountain out of a mole hill, to impress others by clever speeches, etc. – all these things are easy to acquire. Then what is difficult? 

Transcending into cosmic awareness or disciplining the mind is hard to do.

Controlling the mind, withdrawing the soul, and rising into cosmic consciousness is a Herculean task. Unless mind is subjugated, soul cannot rise above body consciousness. 

What do we experience when we sit for meditation? Only those things which we see or enjoy at the sensual level. 

The malady afflicting the mind is described by Guru Amar Das: 

It (mind) is trapped by senses and always troubled by lust and anger.

Five organs of actions and five powers of perception are keeping the mind under their influence. The faculties of perception work through the organs of actions. Mind is attracted by beautiful scenery or melodious songs. It relishes delicious meals and enjoys sweet smells. Sometimes it is attracted by lust. Gyan Indriyas, powers of perception, keep one’s attention gleaned to the outer world through Karma Indriyas, faculties of action. Sometimes the mind is degraded by lust; sometimes it expands through anger. 

Chastity is life, while sexuality is death. History is full of events to explain this point. When Mohammed Gauri attacked India for the first time, he was defeated by Prithvi Rai in two consecutive battles. But in the third battle, Prithvi Raj lost to Mohammed Gauri. Historians write that Prithvi Raj was found with a maid-servant the night before he was defeated. Similarly, Napoleon Bonapart is said to have lost the battle of Waterloo because on the previous night he had indulged in sex. History reveals this. You can confirm it from your daily experience. 

A dog and the unchaste would always remain perturbed.

Once a feeling of lust is generated in a dog, its effect lasts for 30 days. What would be the fate of those men who are constantly haunted by thoughts of animal passions? It is through the eyes that our faculties are affected by lust. If you want to avoid it, do not look into the eyes of the opposite sex. You will be safe to a considerable extent. Mathematicians have calculated that through eyes we get no less than 83 percent of our impressions. Through ears we get 14 percent of our impressions. So, 97 percent of the external impressions are gathered through these two sources, and the remaining 3 percent through other sense organs. 

A Muslim Sage has said: 

Close thy eyes, ears, and tongue. If by doing so you do not experience the Reality, laugh at me.

Guru Nanak has said, 

Oh foolish mind! learn thou to remain at home.

This body is the home. If mind is checked from flowing out and gets concentrated in the body, it would start experiencing the sublime Truth. Only after transcending the pale of senses, one realises that the direction of Naam, the Word, is upwards, while that of lust, downwards. How can a man, who is always haunted by animal passions, commune with the Word? Some aspirants say that Naam does not fructify. Oh Brothers! make your lives chaste. The keeping of a self-introspection diary, which I have prescribed, has some significance. It must be understood that the greater the purity of life, the greater will be one’s access to the higher Spiritual Regions. So chastity of life is essential. 

All the five passions – desire, anger, greed, attachment, and egotism – are perverted forms of one and the same thing – desire. Suppose a stream with a fast water current is flowing gently. Place a big stone in it. The water will strike against it causing two things – foam and sound. Similarly, when we apprehend, visible or invisible, obstruction in the fulfilment of any of our desires, it is converted into anger. Directly or indirectly, if you come to know that someone said or did something against your wishes or put up some obstacles, you may get angry. The anger generally assumes two forms – loud voice and foam. An angry man cannot talk slowly. While shouting, one starts emitting foam. Then one indulges in recrimination and factionalism and starts slandering others. This is followed by waves of lust and anger. In the wake of obstruction, do you know what happens? By vanity, one insists on having a thing. This is known as greed. Having achieved the objective, one is stuck fast in the fear of losing it. This is called attachment. Then one revels in one’s possession and asserts of having obtained it. This is known as ego or I-ness. 

So desire is the root cause of all the five passions. Therefore, Buddha said: 

Be desireless.

This is full of meaning. We only give it a superficial reading and never think seriously as to what is at the root of it. Guru Amar Das says that mind is wandering in the ten portals of our body. How can it adore the Lord? What is the disease afflicting the mind? It is trapped by the senses that are keeping it engaged in sensual pursuits. The only way of weaning it away from sensual appetites is to subdue the senses and discipline the mind. 

Now we know about the ailment engulfing us – lust and anger – by which all the world is being carried away.

Gurbani goes to the extent of saying, 

One Who is free from lust and anger is God’s incarnation.

He in Whom waves of animal passions and anger do not emanate is an embodiment of the Lord. All the passions are burnt away by a mere glimpse of such a person Who will influence others by His radiation. It is quite natural because His mind is controlled. 

By seeing Whom mind is stilled is called a Satguru. Mind can never be subdued, except by the Grace of a Master.

This is the verdict of a Muslim Sage. So how can the mind be stilled? It can be done by an association with a Spiritual Adept. This is the first step. He will first explain the theory and then give a practical demonstration of the esoteric science. Further, He would give necessary guidance to the probationer. 

Tulsi Sahib also says the same thing: 

Attention is stilled in the company of a Sadh – a Disciplined Soul.

The association of a Living Master is known as Satsang which acts as a breakwater – in the sea of mind. It is a long wall of stones erected in the sea so that the waves may retreat after striking it. On the other side, one can easily take a bath and see one’s reflection in the water. The company of a Great Soul serves the same purpose. For a moment the mind-stuff is restricted from flowing out and self-knowledge dawns. 

Guru Amar Das now explains how the mind can be disciplined: 

What a wonderful thing! Mind gets Docile by contacting the All-Pervading Eternal Bliss.