Purpose of the mind-1

To bring a sense of purpose and better quality into our lives we must look at the nature and working of our very mind itself. The mind is meant to absorb information, transform it into knowledge and lead it into action. Action and speech determine the quality of our life and these come from the mind itself. First, let us understand the nature of absorption of the mind. Wise men who have delved into the truth of this have said that most people’s minds are as hard as a rock. Just as a rock is impervious to water, information that falls on a hard mind bounces off without a trace.

A hard mind offers immense resistance to previously absorbed information that prevents the flow of knowledge and action. Our mind must be as soft as a sponge for maximum absorption. Just as water can be easily absorbed by the sponge and squeezed out, a soft mind easily absorbs information and allows free flow of knowledge into action. The two processes are reversible - a soft or open mind can be easily hardened and a hard or closed mind can be easily softened. What makes our mind hard or closed? Ancient sages have said that this is an automatic, front-line defence mechanism for the protection of our belief systems based on our state of ego.

If we encounter an idea or a situation that is not in line with our thinking, we immediately close our mind by putting up a block against it. Ego creates mindset. Mindset is a protective mechanism of self-defence because we are scared of what others think about our notions and beliefs. This mindset is self-destructive. For example a simple discussion develops into an argument and leads to a verbal or physical fight. Mere gathering of information by our mind is useless. We must transform this to knowledge.

Our mind must be extremely pure to be able to perform this conversion efficiently. The results of an impure mind will rebound while the work of a pure mind will reach out for common welfare. A pure, soft mind is gateway to divine living. Thinking positive isn’t enough, you need to think divine. Only then can we soften and purify our mind. We should review the working of our mind at least three times a day. Was my mind aggressive or calm? Did my words and actions hurt or bring joy to people? An object that slips out of our hand can be recovered, but an inappropriate word that slips out of our tongue cannot be erased.

Self-review will free our mind of all obstruction Ideas and inspiration flash freely in a pure mind to transform information to knowledge. Three basic steps can be followed: First, allow others the freedom to be as they are, without imposing your mindset of thoughts and ideas. The first step is very effective for a harmonious peaceful life, Second, have faith and belief that. God is in you. Third, spend some time quietly everyday thinking about your inner. Self and chanting the name of God. This way our mind which seeks information can be changed into a mind meant for the transformation of our very life itself from human to Divine

Daily in the morning sit for meditation, invoke Your Deity and pray to purify your mind. The meditation is not disturbed by any thoughts and you will continue to meditate for a long time.

As far as knowledge is concern there is nothing left to know its secret about, only it has to be enlighten for us to see it, understand it logically, so the purpose of mind is to attain that level of self realization to achieve kevalya, through which past present and unfolded future all is visible with proper ultimate understanding about it, that is it, everything else we are wasting energy of mind.

Mind should always treated as an external object, just like we see our own back without the help of a mirror, we cannot know the characteristics of the mind unless we get detached from it at least for some time in a day.

This constant practice will help us to understand the purpose of the mind. External but part of you !

Mind is not an external entity. Although the mind is the cause of all illusions and Maya, it is the only platform through which one can get salvation. The moment you have detached your mind then you have reached Savilkapa Samadhi. Once you go beyond this state then you are in Nirvikalpa Samadhi or also called as Turiya the fourth state.

There is essentially NOTHING outside us. Everything is us.

Everything is within and there is nothing outside. Samadhi means Samadhan. It means a solution to the problems of all the formulations of the mind. Everything is internal and there is nothing external. Maya means to think that the problem is outside. Maya means to think that the other person is the problem. No. I am the problem and I must be the solution. This thinking in a right way and it means coming out of the Maya. When nothing remains in the process that is your soul or no-soul. You give whatever name it does not matter. The mind is totally empty and died its own death. That pure nothingness within is the soul.

"If we encounter an idea or a situation that is not in line with our thinking, we immediately close our mind by putting up a block against it. Ego creates mindset. Mindset is a protective mechanism of self-defence because we are scared of what others think about our notions and beliefs. This mindset is self-destructive."

So true! How often we react situations that threaten to unearth with our perceptions, which we are convinced are always right, with either the sour grape attitude - that what we don't have simply isn't worth having - or with the sweet lemon attitude - that what we already have is the only possible best. This reaction is so automatic that we rarely pause to consider how far it is based on the truth...thus, with such a mindset, even if we hear words that are potent with the power to transform our lives, it's just as good as letting them fall on deaf ears. If we purify our mind through self- review and follow the three simple but sure steps, then "our mind which seeks information can be changed into a mind meant for the transformation of our very life itself from human to Divine."

(to be Contd.....)