Mind
can be controlled through detachment
God has provided
humanity all its wants and also shown the steps to be adopted by man to get rid
of re-births. Many are eager to uphold these measures but some strange, unseen
power prevents them from pursuing the same. It has no form and no one can
identify it, yet under its influence men go about aimlessly. It makes them
unsteady and lures them to commit sins.
A
person may fame a rogue elephant, ride a tiger, walk with hands and head down
and float on water and undertake similar feats, but cannot control this
powerful obstacle-called the “Mind”. If that is kept checked there is no need
for “Mantras” and other austerities.
The
four fold qualities of the mind can help a man experience heaven even while
living or push him into hell can be explained as such. It is “restless” and is
seized by Satan; it is strong,
turbulent, and obdurate. The mind destroys our peace, what we should aim at is
to make it our slave instead of allowing it to treat us as its servants. God has
prescribed two methods to bring the mind under our control- by constant
practice and through detachment. Nothing will be impossible if a person has
determination. People sleep on ice for months, some walk on one leg and other
cross from the top of one flat to another on a rope at a precarious height- all
with sustained efforts.
The mind can be kept
under vigil by gradual and relentless practice. We can invoke divine mercy by
such a practice. The mind can be trained be serene, tranquil and to maintain
equanimity. While practice is a positive aspect of penance, detachment involves
discarding desires. When our activities are dedicated to God and our attention
is directed to God, the mind remains calm.
“I may be caused to
be born as a worm, but let not my mind stray. Let it be always meditating on
you,” prays a Saint, taking a pledge that he shall with divine assistance,
bring this “Ghost under check.”
Remaining in a closed
room in a bid to get insulated from the lures of the external world will not
ensure peace of mind. To keep the mind under control, the best method is to
seek the company of the virtuous as that alone will make a person’s realize his
own stature compared with God. Who is described as an unseen shareholder of all
that we possess.
It is in this context
that an aspirant is advised to reflect for a moment where he came from and
where he would go. What his relationship is with society and the Almighty.
God has divided the
world into two distinctive sections the divine and the Diabolic. Those who
choose to reside in the former region lead a well-defined life, marked by piety
and humility. The others reach the hellish part, through the tree gates
representing desire, anger, and conceit, but giving up the surging ego in them
and surrendering themselves to God can transform even the latter category of
people. Instead of remaining self-centered and boasting of their achievements,
they should dedicate every act of theirs at the feet of God.
God has expanded the
philosophy of life Himself. All the act of a man converges in Him and hence
when he undertakes any job he should take care that it is not motivated by
desires. He should remember that God alone is his permanent companion and if He
is properly called. He shall make his presence felt and extend. His help and
save him from any situation.
Among the most
important divine injections is the duty to spare the money one possesses for
God and His creations. God has also prescribed certain austerities to be
performed which can help man in clearing his mind of the cobweb that have
accumulated but they should never be performed for personal gains.
God expects a
purified heart in man. Usually a devotee is advised not to seek any favor from
the almighty. But as human beings, they cannot refrain from submitting their
places. At times circumstances may compel them to resort to such requests. But
even under those conditions, some refrain from asking any favor, Sudama, Lord Krishna’s classmate was
one such exception. Both were disciplines of the same preceptor Sadipani.
Although a
householder Sudama was contended
with what God had given him but his wife compelled him to approach Lord Krishna
for help because their children’s were starving. How he reluctantly under took
the trip to meet the Lord. Sudama
was elated at the opportunity he was given to worship Sri Krishna, thanks to
the suggestion of his wife. In many cases woman tender correct and proper
advice to their spouses. They act as the custodians of the culture of the
nation. A Rakshasa’s wife delivered
an extremely godly child (Prahlad),
because while it was growing she had religious discipline taught to her.
When Sudama reached Lord Krishna’s mansion surprise was in store for him. A warm
welcome was extended by the Lord who seized the tiny bundle of parched rice
brought by the ill clad Sudama, who
stood dazed on witnessing Sri Krishna’s
bewitching form. Realizing the embarrassment of his friend. God caused his
house turn into an enviable residence pouring wealth into it. Sudama on his return could not imagine
that such a transformation could have taken place. He spent the rest of his
life without getting intoxicated by the riches, continuing his detached life
and displaying greater devotion to his benefactor.
Science explores the
law of gravitation while religion unfolds the law of grace. One can grow
horizontally with the help of scientific knowledge. Horizontal growth involves
mare of everything that can provide comfort but not inner satisfaction.
Religion invites us to grow vertically, exploring deeply love, devotion and
contentment.
Both horizontal and
vertical growths are necessary in our lives. Vertical growth in the spiritual
dimension is essential for nourishing our soul.
Hinduism conceives of
god as Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer and Shiva the destroyer. All three elements
co-exit. To create, knowledge is important. So Lord Brahma’s spouse is Saraswati.
To sustain, wealth is necessary, so lord Vishnu’s
spouse is Lakshmi. To destroy,
the ingredient required is strength, so. Lord Shiva’s spouse is Shakti festival
all three are invoked and worshipped in the form of Saraswati, knowledge, Lakshmi,
wealth and Shakti, strength.
Every festival in
India is celebrated with a divine purpose so as to receive the grace of the
almighty. Navaratri means nine
nights. According to a Hindu belief, the last thought one entertains before
one’s death determines the next birth. How does one have a sacred thought
before death? It is possible through self-discipline. We sleep every day. Sleep
is similar to death except that we wake up. Sleep can thus be termed as
mini-death. If we were to discipline our mind by invoking a sacred though prior
to sleep every day, it will certainly help us to have a sacred thought during
the time of death, Mahatma Gandhi said ‘hey
ram’ before his death as he was self – disciplined.
Nava also
means ‘new’. If we invoke the blessings of Saraswati,
Lakshmi and Shakti before going
to sleep every night, we will experience newness every night. Night or ratri also means darkness denotes
ignorance. For this too, invoking the goddesses can prove fruitful. Through
grace, our ratri or ignorance will
vanish. Grace cannot be understood logically. It is a quantum leap in the field
of consciousness. In physics, quantum leap is a great discovery. It involves
electrons disappearing from one point and between them there is no time gap.
Hence it is called quantum leap. Similarly, in the field of consciousness, when
grace descends there will be a quantum leap in us.
During navaratri, three nights of worship are
assigned to each of the three Devis.
Nava or newness in the form of grace
is invoked. The tenth day is vijayadashami,
denoting victory – victory of higher consciousness through the blessing of the
goddesses. The greatest victory is the dispelling of darkness or
ignorance.
Grace of the Devis always exists; it’s just that we
should be worthy to receive them. The inner apparatus suitable to receive them
is pure mind. Impure mind is like dirty muddy water, which cannot reflect the
light of the moon. Moon exists but to reflect in water, the water has to be
clean. This is called partibimba nyaya.
Our mind has to be pure in order to receive grace.
Navaratri,
therefore, is the celebration of removing ignorance. Our ignorance exists in
the form of ego. E-G-O can mean edging god out. Hence we find Shakti dancing on Shiva’s chest. It may appear disrespectful but it is symbolic: an
egoless lord Shiva allows his wife
to dance over him. It means Devi’s
grace can descend in any form… but one should be available to receive it.