How to Master the Mind?

In the Fifth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita covered last week, we saw Krishna alluding to meditation and breathing. He recommended them as the pathways to let go of the mind, body, senses, emotions, and thoughts. In this Sixth chapter, Krishna explains how.

?Harnessing the Power of the Mind

Krishna says:

Renunciation of attachment to desired outcomes leads to selfless service. This selfless service in turn leads to a spiritual awareness of the Oneness with Brahman. Once there, you need a still, steady and peaceful mind, which will empower your will. Your will is your friend when you control it and have found oneness with Self. It’s your enemy when it controls you.

?The wise one, who has realised Oneness with the ultimate reality of Brahman, is in peace, in equanimity, in control of senses, mind, body and will, oblivious of pain or pleasure, wealth or poverty, giving love to all whether one supports, hates or is indifferent to them.

Pathways to Stillness and Unity

?Such a wise person, and any aspirant to this state, seek the Self within through meditation, controlling mindbody with one-pointedness, without expectation and attachment to external objects as possessions. To become one such person, sit firmly and comfortably in a clean place, not too low or high, on a cloth, grass or deerskin. Still your thoughts. Focus on the Brahman and purify your heart.?Hold your body, head, and neck firmly, in a line. Keep your eyes still and focused. Do not eat or sleep too much, or too little.

When the mind is still, not wandering, fears cease, and all actions lead to the Brahman in bliss. Mindbody moves from selfish greed to the Self and Brahman. Mind is still like a sheltered flame. Self is revealed. One acts, knowing all life is one and is about One. There is no desire or sorrow. This is the path of Yoga. Follow this with commitment and keenness.

?The nature of the mind is to be restless looking for external pleasures. Lead it inwards. Use your will to control your mind and senses. Slowly, with patience and repetition, still the mind within the Self, and be in eternal bliss. One who perceives the Brahman in every creature, all creatures created by that One energy, is in a unified state of Cosmic Consciousness. They are never separated from the Oneness. In this Cosmic Consciousness, the practitioners’ thoughts and actions emanate from that Oneness of energy. Their joys and sorrows arise by serving others.

?Mastering the Mind: A Challenging Endeavor

?Arjuna asks:

?How can my restless mind achieve this state of eternal blissful peace? Controlling my mind is like controlling the wind.

?Krishna answers:

?It’s difficult. Practice detachment to lead you to self-control and the goal.

?Arjuna asks again:

?If I have faith, and yet I wander from the goal, what happens? Will I lose all support?

?Krishna answers:

?Spiritual pursuit is never wasted. No seeker of the Spirit will suffer, either here or in any world. They live here long, join the righteous in energy when they die, and are reborn in comfort in an environment conducive to their spiritual growth. Their past wisdom will remain and be re-awakened, and driven hard by their past meditation practice rise above those who engage in rituals.

?Over many lives, they are purified of selfish desires and reach Oneness. Meditation is better than knowledge, selfless service and mere renunciation. Meditate, completely absorbed in that Oneness of Brahman with faith.

?With this advice, Krishna ends what is traditionally described as the Yoga of Karma or Action in the Bhagavad Gita.

?In these six chapters, Arjuna’s dilemma moves from what to do, to whether he should follow knowledge, renunciation or action, and then within action how to renounce desires and be selfless. Krishna links action with knowledge and renunciation through the pathway of Yoga and meditation.

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Personal Reflection and the Journey Within

Many meditators ask me how they can stay in the space of stillness of meditation forever. I can only answer for myself. I couldn’t. The first glimpse of the Oneness of mindbody-less state I witnessed during a Vipassana program was after more than 2 decades of meditative practice. This could not be re-created for another decade till I serendipitously landed in Ramana’s lap in his samadhi at Tiruvannamalai. Since then, with some effort and practice, I can re-create the glimpse when I stay still and let my mind be still.

I certainly cannot do that when I am engaged in otherworldly pursuits. I am nowhere at the Raja Rishi Janaka state of completely disengaged activity. Most of us need to have our feet firmly on the ground, even when we aspire to have our heads in the heavens. Occasionally, our feet may lift off the ground and we have a glimpse of our potential. That glimpse often energises us to lead our life with purpose. Ramana and Ramakrishna are the rare ones who lived in the Oneness state eternally. Others, who say they do, pretend. They are no better than you and I.?

Reflection

?Meditation is not about stopping thoughts. As long as we are alive, as long as we breathe, we have desires and thoughts. The stillness of mind is about not following the thoughts, merely being a witness.

?In that stillness, a learner meditator would find the most negative thoughts of lust, greed, anger, grief, guilt and shame arising. This is normal. One needs to go through this process of catharsis. This is why people run away from Vipassana after 2 days or break their vows by talking and reading surreptitiously. Continued practice leads to stillness, slowly.

?Stillness gradually leads to acceptance, gratitude in stithapragnya, steadfast Self-awareness. These to selflessness, love and compassion. The path is not easy. It’s not difficult either. You need no guide or guru except yourself. The only faith you need is that you are energy encased in matter. Meditation, as Krishna says is the pathway to realise your Oneness.???

?The Bhagavad Gita is the message for today’s professionals and executives. If you liked what you read, share these insights from ancient wisdom with your network, requesting them to share. We may open closed minds, hearts and will.

Ram is a co-founder and mentor at Coacharya?https://coacharya.com. Ram's focus is the integration of Eastern wisdom with modern science, spiritually, systemically and sustainably. Visit Coacharya.

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