Nature of MIND

Hari Om

Mind being a conscious matter can only receive or attain the qualities or attributes of objects to what it is attached to or associated with. Therefore you are what your mind is. (image courtesy: pinterest.com)

Intents and motives of the mind behind actions become severe cause Karmas for future lives to be good or bad. Of these, our intention wishing / expecting some body (good / bad) to experience suffering or the happiness we derive from the suffering and downfall of others —are the worst bad karmas which will bind now (here) and in future lives with immense suffering. By wishing bad and constantly working with ill wishes for destruction of others, one cannot be successful or peaceful or happy in life even with greatest talents or circumstances.

Never wish or expect anyone to experience suffering. We can see many people are not happy in spite of being rich, talented or hardworking mainly due to this stinking habit of thinking or wishing bad for others. This is caused mainly by hatred or resentment. Harbouring resentment is like drinking poison and expecting other person to die. If your mind is associated with disease you will be sick and if your mind is associated with cure or health you will be healthy.

This is a simple logic. This can also be understood from Puranas —How Kamsa being a demon by action got liberated as his mind was constantly dwelling in Lord Krishna even though it was out of fear or Sishubala who got liberated as his mind was constantly associated with the Lord Krishna even though the attachment was due to hatred.

Mind will always attain the qualities or intentions of objects to which or whom it is attached to, so always remember to associate your mind for positive, constructive purpose, good objectives and healthy goals.

Simple e.g., — while watching a game or sport in a TV, not knowing both teams or players, our Minds will habitually say or expect that a particular person or team should lose , such thoughts will bring bad cause karmas to experience real suffering in future lives. You can expect a player or your favourite team to win without thinking negatively for the other player or team.

Only by developing neutral or positive attitude towards your enemies or strangers such intentions and consequently bad karmic seeds can be avoided. This is the Teaching.

Neecha Grahas and Planets in inimical houses denote such intents of individuals from the impressions (vasanas) of past lives.

Instead of attaching your mind to a wrong goal or objective or to a bad cause or to a fake hero or to an unreal worldly pursuit, Attach your mind to the Supreme Lord with devotion who will transform you to permanent state of Bliss which is Lord’s innate quality.

In the Bhagavad Gita 6-34, Arjuna equates the mind to wind and says:

cancalam hi manah krsna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram

Meaning: The mind is very fickle indeed O Krishna, turbulent, strong and obstinate. I think it is as impossible to control the mind as the wind.

And in the next verse, Lord Krishna concurs:

sri-bhagavan uvaca:

asamsayam maha-baho mano durnigraham calam abhyasena tu kaunteya vairagyena ca grhyate

Meaning: Undoubtedly, O Mighty Armed, it is very difficult to control the ever moving (vacillating) mind. However, O son of Kunti, through sincere practice (Assiduousness) and dispassionate detachment (vairagya or imperturbability), it can be achieved.

Intelligence is supposed to direct or instruct the mind, but the mind is so strong and obstinate that it often overpowers even one’s own intelligence. Such a strong mind can be controlled only by the practice of yoga, but such practice is never practical for a worldly person attached to materialistic goals. The simile used here is appropriate; one cannot capture the blowing wind. And it is even more difficult to capture the turbulent mind. The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by scriptures, is chanting “Holy names,” the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. One must engage one’s mind fully in God.

Therefore by constant devotional practices and with detached attachment to material world, we can keep the mind positive, regulated and controlled.

GF’ Blessings. Om Tat Sat.