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.