Mind is the most important God given gift to Man for without it he becomes worthless! Mind is one of the the “Antahkaranas” the others being buddhi or intellect, Ahankara or ego, chitta or will. It is accepted by science that the more subtle part of the food we take feeds our intelligence and the most subtle part becomes the mind. We cannot see the mind physically not can we identify it in any other way. It is recognized by the way an individual reacts to situations that he faces. Let us take the example of a piece of cloth. It is made of cotton and woven through the yarn made out of cotton.Three stages, cotton, yarn and finally the cloth complete the process. Without basic materials no cloth can be produced. Similarly without food mind cannot exist and perform its function of discrimination, preferences, and judge do's and don'ts. When can the cloth disappear? It is when every yarn is pulled out! Likewise when there are no do's and don'ts mind cannot exist! So we can define Mind as a bundle of desires! It cannot have real entity. It has no power of its own! How does it get its name? “Mananam manah”-that which remembers, recollects as well as ruminates.
Mentàl activity results in resolutions or in their dissolution. In other words the quality of the Mind is “ Sankalpa and Vikalpa”. Mind does not exist in the absence of the two.
“ The body is the garment worn by the mind. Thoughts automatically give rise to actions, which then form into habits, and habits then form the character of man. It is character that decides our destiny, as per the law of cause and effect. (karma)”- says Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. (SSS Vol X) Mind is the boiling pot of resolves and indecisions. Excitement upsets the mind and leads to grief. Good thoughts purify the mind. Nobody knows what the mind is but they suffer because of it and its illusory existence! It is our desires that form the warp and woof of the mind. If desires are under check or removed Mind disappears! Swami says, “If a car is moving, there must be a road which is stationary. Likewise, Atma is the basis for the functioning of the Mind, senses and the body.” According to astrology moon is the karaka for the mind. The position of the moon in the horoscope of the Individual decides the mentality of the person.The word “Lunatic” comes from the word “ Luna” which means the moon! Its bad position makes one a mad person or one with instability of mind. While fire has a tendency to move up, Mind tends to move downwards and get involved in petty things!
It is the Mind that is responsible for any attachment or detachment!” Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh” The senses tempt the mind to like something and attachment is developed. But it is very difficult to get detachment since one cannot extricate himself from his desires and family life. It is only when one is disgusted with Samsara there is an attempt to get detached! What is the nature of Mind? “ Man's mind makes him the crown of all animals.The mind plays tricks with man, who believes that some things are good and some bad, some eternal and some transitory. There is no pleasure that is unmixed with pain, there is hardly any act that is not tainted with egoism. So be warned and develop detachment which will indeed save you from grief” counsels Swami-(SSS VolX)
Original state of the Mind is purity. It is ‘ Nirmala'. But it is spoiled by sensory impressions that bring in likes and dislikes. Animal mind is not affected by attachments and attractions. Mind has fourfold functions, the mental, the intelligence, the chitta or the will, and ahankara or the ego. In discrimination our intellect comes into action. It is intellect that decides what is right or wrong.This is also an aspect of the mind. It is extremely difficult to control or set right the mind. Swami says “You can reset a tree to make it grow straight. You can straighten even a granite stone. But, you cannot easily set right the mind.”
How can man live happily? This is a question that demands a proper answer. Man needs peace of mind to lead a happy life. But in this complex day today world of materialism, desires, and disappointments, it has become a mirage! However much he tries to attain peace of mind, it eludes him. Man's mind is compared to the turbulent waters of the Ganga! It has to be restrained by applying some brakes. Meditation or Dhyana is the suitable brake that can arrest the vacillating mind. Single minded concentration is otherwise called as Dhyana. “ Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax! The mind is like water. When it is turbulent it is difficult to see. When it is calm everything becomes clear. A calm mind always brings a better outcome. To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders! Train your mind to keep calm and stay positive in every negative situation”
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