When The Mind Becomes A Battlefield
Before embarking on the path of B meditation, it is important for the seeker to ponder over the nature of the mind, says Swami Muktananda, the sage of Ganeshpuri. It is essential to grapple with questions like: What exactly is the mind? Of what substance is it made? How does it come into existence? How can it be subdued? Awareness of the nature of mind helps in making it calm and peaceful. Meditation comes easily to one who has true knowledge of the mind. The Yoga Vashishta says that the world is 'manomatram'or imagination. The throbbing of 'prana', the life-giving force, makes the mind move. The movement of mind in turn brings into being a wondrous universe with myriad names and forms. The creation of universe is due to the force of 'vikshepa'or movement of the mind. The 'vikshepa' force operates both in the waking and dream therefore the world appears in these states. According to Swami Shivananda, the legerdemain of the world is enacted by the mind alone. Like a dream generating another dream in it, the mind, having no concrete form, brings into being that which is non-existent. The perishable universe has no independent existence other than the mind. With annihilation of the mind, the subjective universe too comes to an end. The mind borrows its light and intelligence from its source, Pure Consciousness, in the same way as an ironrodborrows its heat and effulgence from fire. A typical feature of the mind is that it is'chanchala or ever-fluctuating and keeps moving from one object to another at rapid pace. This is why it is often compared to a monkey that keeps jumping from one branch of tree to another. The mind is constantly drawn towards objects and creates countless worlds according to its own 'sankalpas'or thoughts. The main reason why the mind is ever-fluctuating and restless is that it is under the constant sway of the three 'gunas' or qualities of Prakriti, namely, 'sattva', purity and light, 'rajas', passion and activity and 'times', inertia and darkness. If 'sattva' dominates the mind, it becomes one-pointed and the seeker enters into a meditative mood spontaneously; if 'times' dominates, the mind is enveloped by darkness and loses its power of discrimination; and if 'rajas' holds sway, the mind hankers after power, position and prestige and becomes overambitious. It is important for the seeker to remember two things: First, 'sattva' cannot exist in isolation; it is always mixed with 'rajas' and 'tames'. In order therefore to make progress on the path of meditation, the seeker shouldstantly endeavour to increase the Vic' modifications of love, magnify, mercy and forgiveness in relate other two 'gunas' by takingreto light, 'static' food and by move the company of wise people (satsSecond, the purpose of medics not to battle with the mind an eradicate thoughts by force; it is witness the mind from a distangshould remain firmly anchoredunderstandingthat you urethanes, the Self, and not the fickle If you meditate with this aware your mind will become calm veranda you will be able to give it a inward direction. Swami Mutases: "No matter what thoughts images arise in the mind, be await there is no concrete materiwhich they are being manifesteThey are simply a phantasm goof Consciousness."
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Anup Taneja views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Anup Taneja and Speaking Tree,Times of India
When The Mind Becomes A Battlefield
Before embarking on the path of B meditation, it is important for the seeker to ponder over the nature of the mind, says Swami Muktananda, the sage of Ganeshpuri. It is essential to grapple with questions like: What exactly is the mind? Of what substance is it made? How does it come into existence? How can it be subdued? Awareness of the nature of mind helps in making it calm and peaceful. Meditation comes easily to one who has true knowledge of the mind. The Yoga Vashishta says that the world is 'manomatram'or imagination. The throbbing of 'prana', the life-giving force, makes the mind move. The movement of mind in turn brings into being a wondrous universe with myriad names and forms. The creation of universe is due to the force of 'vikshepa'or movement of the mind. The 'vikshepa' force operates both in the waking and dream therefore the world appears in these states. According to Swami Shivananda, the legerdemain of the world is enacted by the mind alone. Like a dream generating another dream in it, the mind, having no concrete form, brings into being that which is non-existent. The perishable universe has no independent existence other than the mind. With annihilation of the mind, the subjective universe too comes to an end. The mind borrows its light and intelligence from its source, Pure Consciousness, in the same way as an ironrodborrows its heat and effulgence from fire. A typical feature of the mind is that it is'chanchala or ever-fluctuating and keeps moving from one object to another at rapid pace. This is why it is often compared to a monkey that keeps jumping from one branch of tree to another. The mind is constantly drawn towards objects and creates countless worlds according to its own 'sankalpas'or thoughts. The main reason why the mind is ever-fluctuating and restless is that it is under the constant sway of the three 'gunas' or qualities of Prakriti, namely, 'sattva', purity and light, 'rajas', passion and activity and 'times', inertia and darkness. If 'sattva' dominates the mind, it becomes one-pointed and the seeker enters into a meditative mood spontaneously; if 'times' dominates, the mind is enveloped by darkness and loses its power of discrimination; and if 'rajas' holds sway, the mind hankers after power, position and prestige and becomes overambitious. It is important for the seeker to remember two things: First, 'sattva' cannot exist in isolation; it is always mixed with 'rajas' and 'tames'. In order therefore to make progress on the path of meditation, the seeker shouldstantly endeavour to increase the Vic' modifications of love, magnify, mercy and forgiveness in relate other two 'gunas' by takingreto light, 'static' food and by move the company of wise people (satsSecond, the purpose of medics not to battle with the mind an eradicate thoughts by force; it is witness the mind from a distangshould remain firmly anchoredunderstandingthat you urethanes, the Self, and not the fickle If you meditate with this aware your mind will become calm veranda you will be able to give it a inward direction. Swami Mutases: "No matter what thoughts images arise in the mind, be await there is no concrete materiwhich they are being manifesteThey are simply a phantasm goof Consciousness."
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Anup Taneja views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Anup Taneja and Speaking Tree,Times of India