What should we do to control our mind and stay detached?

 As Guru Poornima is approaching, a sadhaka tries to increase his / her spiritual efforts. Control over mind and is very important. Swami Ramsukhdas ji's invaluable advice is always useful for our spiritual progress. This year Guru Poornima is on 24-Jul-2021

Note: 1st Q & A was posted in 2009. Here is a complete Q & A from Swami Ramsukhdas ji's website

Question:  How can I get rid off the clatter in my mind?

Swami Ramsukhdas ji:  When clatter comes your way, don't become happy or sad. These things will come and go. The mantra is "agaamipaayinonitya" recite this within the mind. Have that feeling, that inner expression that this thing comes and goes, it is unreal (it is changing). However good or bad the situation may be, but the minute that situation comes up, immediately recite within, this is "agaamipaayinonitya". It's nature is to come and go, it is unreal, constantly changing. This is the truth, because neither favorable nor unfavorable situations will remain. Simply understand, that this will not stay with us. This is not a new thing. So what is there to be happy or sad with the situation?

In getting something that you like or not getting it, what is there to become happy or sad? Best of best situations come your way, then that too will not remain, but you will always remain! Right in front of you, both favorable and unfavorable situations come and go, but you remain. You are that same one. Simply keep your sight on your Self.

All that comes and goes do not blend with it - this itself is liberation. By blending with it - that itself is bondage. All the clatter, the noise that comes and goes, by becoming entangled with it is bondage, and not getting entangled with it is liberation.

What an easy, straight-forward, simple point this is!

From discourse in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji on Dec 14, 1995 at 5:30 pm

Question:  In spite of knowing this, I become entangled and blend with the clatter in my mind.  What should I do?

Swami Ramsukhdas ji:  You say that in spite of not wanting you somehow get entangled and blend with the clatter. In favorable situations and unfavorable situations you become suddenly one with them, then there is a solution for that as well. On blending with them, you still have the knowledge that you have blended with them, but you are actually separate, and the favorable / unfavorable are separate. Isn't it the truth? Noise and clatter arise, then they subside; they come and they go away; but you remain. Then you and the noise are two or one?

From discourse in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji on Dec 14, 1995 at 5:30 pm

Question:  At present I understand, but when the moment comes, I blend with the situation, and realize much too late, what must be done?

Swami Ramsukhdas ji:  Now you say that - you understand right now, but the moment that a favorable or unfavorable situation comes, at that moment, you cannot tell. You become united and blend with it. After becoming connected with it, you realize later that you have blended. The answer is that even after recognizing this later, think that you were not joined at that time as well. You had simply believed that you were joining. It was never with you, and you were apart from it. With such understanding, become silent!! That is it! It will go away. By giving importance to the joy and sorrow from the union, the clatter within continues. Therefore do not give it any significance. Talk to it and say, you were never connected, then it will be wiped out, eradicated entirely. When you become aware, then say to yourself, that no - no, you were never united with it.

From "Sansaar kaa asar kaise chute?" in Hindi pg 32-35 by Swami Ramsukhdasji.

Question:  Regarding getting rid off the agitations of the mind you said "Disassociate yourself from the mind, and simply do not become happy and unhappy." Can you elaborate on "Do not become happy or unhappy when situations arise" ?

Swami Ramsukhdas ji:  Whatever path a yogi follows, Path of Knowledge (Jnana yoga), Path of Selfless Service (Karma yoga), or Path of Devotion and Love (Bhakti yoga), whatever situations comes in his way, neither become elated, nor become disappointed. This is everyone's work, not just for yogis. Who ever is intent on realizing God or the Self, for those spiritual aspirants (sadhakas), this point is very essential. However beautiful a thing you acquire, or however ugly an object you see, however favorable or unfavorable a situation that comes in your life, in these opposing circumstances, the one who neither becomes happy, nor becomes unhappy, that one will realize God. And the one that is elated or down, will continue to come and go in the cycle of birth and death.

Favorable and unfavorable situations will come to all. God (Lord Krishna), who is Arjuna's charioteer says – My brother, this is "sheetoshna sukhdukhadah". That is, graciously you must bare these situations. "taansstitiskhasva" (Gita 2:14). God does not say, I will relieve you of these painful circumstances, rather he says, to endure (sahan karo) in those situations.

Therefore do not become a slave to your own likes (raag) and dislikes (dwesh).

When something appears to be okay or not okay, do not become happy or sad.  Instead, be unconcerned about it, and everything will be all right. When disturbances come your way, do not become happy or unhappy. These situations will come and go. Make this your mantra – "It is coming. It is going. It is passing." However good or bad a situation is, the minute the agitations arrive, start to repeat your mantra – "It is coming. It is going. It is passing." This is the absolute truth. Neither favorable situations stay nor unfavorable situations stay. Only remember this much, it will not stay. In this you do not have to do any new work. Now with this discovery, what's to be happy and what's to be unhappy?

From "Man ki khatpat kaise mite?" book in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji.

Note: When Swami Ramsukhda ji says, 'do not become happy or sad, it means one has to remain neutral and not get carried away by the impulses. In deeper sense, 'to not become anything' means not to associate oneself or 'I' with any external object, physical body or with thoughts, emotions or personality. In other words, be detached from mind, body and intellect.

What is the Purpose of mind?

What is the purpose of mind?

Mind is in between body and soul. Mind wants constant happiness, but does not know how to reach it. Mind wants love but does not know where to find it. The real purpose of mind is to know who we are, but the mind itself with its desires and restlessness is itself an obstacle to perceive the soul. Mind takes the support of the body to fulfil its desires, and goes on reminding that we are the body and that we should enjoy world making it difficult to allow us perceive the truth of soul and not the body.

The goal of life and the purpose of mind is to to perceive and experience we are the Soul, Atman or Brahman.

 

Source: Extracted and edited from: ‘Lineage of Kriya Yoga Masters’ by Paramhansa Prajnanananda, pg 164

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Will my mind calm down?

Disciple: I had never realized that I had such a disobedient mind, it is worse than a mad monkey. Will also my mind calm down?

Prajnananandaji: The mind is mischievous. As soon as you try to discipline your mind, the mind start a non-cooperating movement to maintain its independence.

At the beginning a conscious person also has to recognize his weaknesses and negativities. Transformation is in itself progress. Knowing one’s weakness is strength. If thoughts come, just watch them and let go instead of trying them to control. Try to change their quality*

*changing quality means convincing the mind that meditating and chanting God’s name is the best thing to do. Bring more Sattvik thoughts, thoughts which are about the glories of God, Atman, etc.

Source: Extracted from ‘Lineage of Kriya Yoga Masters’ by Paramhansa Prajanananda, pg 131

Read More about mind

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My Mind Started Chatting even more loudly during meditation, what should i do?

I tried to practice (meditation) but, as soon as I sat on the floor, my mind started chatting even more loudly. What should I do?

Prajanananandaji: It is not the body that comes with you life after life, but the mind. Life after Life you have kept the mind in an extrovert state. Even in this lifetime, since childhood and for years and years, you have kept your mind untrained, restless and in an extrovert state. It is only since a few hours that you are trying to discipline your mind. Previously you have always followed commands of your mind. By simply sitting down on the floor, you pretend and expect to have a silent peaceful mind! Please have a little patience!!

The mind is a bundle of thoughts. Let thoughts come, watch them but do not entertain them. If you welcome a thought it will give rise to a chain of related thoughts, Avoid those thoughts than can be avoided. Watch your thoughts, but do not welcome them. By avoiding repeatedly a thought, the thought will die.

Source: Source: Lineage of Kriya Yoga Masters by Paramhansa Prajanananda, pg 130

Another explanation:

Let us understand some basic definitions as given in Shastras.

Intellect: Quality of taking decision. (Tatva Bodh, Vivek Choodamani)

Mind: Mind is nothing but continuous flow of thoughts (Tatva Bodh, Vivek Choodamani. Sri Ramana Maharshi says the same thing in ‘Who am I’)

The nature of mind is extrovert. In general, mind follows five senses.

We have made our mind the slave of senses. It should be vice versa, as mind is more subtler than body and senses.

Body –> Senses –> Mind –> Intellect –> Atman (Self)

In order of increasing subtle nature, body is grossest and Self is subtlest. A Subtle element is more powerful than gross element.

Why cant I meditate?

We all have an extrovert nature. If Mind has any desire. then to fulfil the desire mind takes the help of body via prana [1]. So when body fulfils the desire (say wish to eat a delicacy) mind gets satisfaction and not the body. Meditation or Japa, takes the mind and senses to an introvert state which is opposite to the nature of mind.

In meditation, when you decide to be aware of Japa mantra or a specific process (kriya), mind revolts and shows off its power. It creates more and more thoughts, more and more scenes. You tend to get involved in these thoughts or scenes. As soon as you get involved, the meditation is broken, but unaware of this the meditator experiences a relief. This relief is due to the fact that the fight between mind and intellect is over. Mind has foxed the meditator.

Do not use force in meditation

By forcing the mind one can achieve temporary success, but a time will come when the mind will show its power and you will not be able to meditate for even 5 – 10 mins. As soon as you sit in meditation, you may feel to quit.

In the beginning, meditator applies force and tries to forcefully concentrate. This results into a mental fight,resulting into mental fatigue, stress and impatience. One comes out drained out and tired after the meditation.

It is not advisable to force your mind to meditate. Better and correct way is to convince the mind that meditation is the best option then any of the worldly thought. Reading scriptures which give importance to none other then SELF or atman are very very helpful. Listening to devotional songs or attending listening recorded discourses / satsangs (spiritual retreats) also helps a lot. Shastras help one to get one direction. It fills one with words, needed to convince the mind during meditation. Out of the two choices available (1. to get involved in the thoughts & 2. let go thoughts and continue chanting), proper convincing of mind is necessary, to select the right choice. After regular practice, one will be able to get more grip. Less the force, more time one can spend in mediation.

When one goes to learn to swim, he comes out of the swimming pool tired. Later after he learns to swami efficiently, he goes for swimming to relax!!!.

Same is the case with meditation. Shastras say that initially it feels like you have been poisoned, later you experience that you are filled with nectar of bliss and immortality. So just hold on and do not quit.

Once you have the practise of ‘Let Go’ of thoughts, the power of thoughts begin to decrease. Once you are fully aware of Japa Mantra, or of any kriya, as given by a master, thoughts fade away. Gradually, after constant practice, you will be able to meditate easily and come out of meditation more refreshed and relaxed. Now you will begin to enjoy your meditation.

[1] In Ramana Gita, Sri Ramana Maharshi says that Mind is Jnana Shakti and Prana is Kriya Shakti. Mind has knowledge about work but cannot do the work. It has to take the support of Prana Shakti to do the work.

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At present I understand, but when the moment comes, I blend with the situation, and realize much too late, what must be done?

 

Question:  At present I understand, but when the moment comes, I blend with the situation, and realize much too late, what must be done?

Swami Ramsukhdasji:  Now you say that - you understand right now, but the moment that a favourable or unfavourable situation comes, at that moment, you cannot tell. You become united and blend with it. After becoming connected with it, you realize later that you have blended. The answer is that even after recognizing this later, think that you were not joined at that time as well. You had simply believed that you were joining. It was never with you, and you were apart from it. With such understanding, become silent!! That is it! It will go away. By giving importance to the joy and sorrow from the union, the clatter within continues. Therefore do not give it any significance. Talk to it and say, you were never connected, then it will be wiped out, eradicated entirely. When you become aware, then say to yourself, that no - no, you were never united with it.

From "Sansaar kaa asar kaise chute?" in Hindi pg 32-35 by Swami Ramsukhdasji.

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I become entangled and blend with the clatter in my mind. What should I do ?

condt.

Question:  In spite of knowing this, I become entangled and blend with the clatter in my mind.  What should I do?

Swami Ramsukhdasji:  You say that in spite of not wanting you somehow get entangled and blend with the clatter. In favourable situations and unfavourable situations you become suddenly one with them, then there is a solution for that as well. On blending with them, you still have the knowledge that you have blended with them, but you are actually separate, and the favourable / unfavourable are separate. Isn't it the truth? Noise and clatter arise, then they subside; they come and they go away; but you remain. Then you and the noise are two or one?

- Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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