Way to Control the Instability of Mind - M P Mathur

The way to control the mind is a theme of universal interest. It concerns every spiritual seeker belonging to any religion. All of us try to control our minds but miserably fail to do so. Who can help us in this regard? Only those exalted saints who have perfectly controlled their own mind.

Arjuna said to Lord Krishna, in utter despair that mind is restless, turbulent, powerful and obstinate. To control the mind is as hard, it seems to me, as to control the wind (Gita VI. 34). Lord Krishna listened to this general complaint of strivers and gave a reply in Gita (VI. 35) as under—

"Undoubtedly, O! Arjuna, the mind is restive and hard to control. But by practice (Abhyasa) and dispassion (Vairagya) it can be controlled.

Thus Lord Krishna, gave out the secret of controlling the mind in these two words ‘Abhyasa and Vairagya. Even all the saints and sages have declared that there is no other way of controlling the mind except, through ‘practice’ and ‘dispassion.’

In this connection it is worthwhile to quote a dialogue between Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and a devotee, in which the former emphasizes a fundamental point which everyone needs to remember. "Sri Ramakrishna—Do not sit idle simply because your spiritual consciousness has been awakened a little. Go forward beyond the forest of sandal wood, there are other and more valuable things—silver mines, gold mines and so on.

Priya—Sir, our legs are in chains. We cannot go forward.

Sri Ramakrishna—What if the legs are chained? The important thing is the mind. Bondage is of the mind, and freedom is also of the mind.

Priya—But the mind is not under my control.

Sri Ramakrishna—How is that? There is such a thing as Abhyasa Yoga. Yoga through practice, keep up the practice and you will find that your mind will follow in whatever direction you lead it. The mind is like a white cloth just returned from laundry. It will be red if you dip it in the red dye and blue if you dip it in the blue. It will have whatever color you dip it in."

© "Kalyana-Kalpataru" (February, 2000) published by Jagdish Prasad Jalan for Gobind Bhawan Karyalaya, Gita Press, Gorakhpur. Reprinted with permission.

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