You Do As Your Mind Tells You - Smt. Anasuya Devi Jellelamudi

Questioner: Amma, what is the sakti (power) in you that attracts people to you?

Amma: The asakti (fondness, attachment) in me.

Q: Don’t you make any effort?

Amma: For one who has sat, where is the thought of getting up and going? As it occurs to my mind, so I proceed. Does anyone do otherwise than his mind tells him?

Q: If the mind impels one to do wrong, isn’t it wrong?

Amma: I keep no list of rights and wrongs, my child.

Q: You speak very strangely, Amma.

Amma: It is my way of putting things.

Q: You have said: "What is thought, does not happen; what has to be’ is unavoidable." Then what is the use of attempting anything purposefully?

Amma: It is true, my child, that ‘what has to be’ is unavoidable. But even though you know that truth you cannot avoid making an effort. Yet however much effort you make, finally it is only ‘what has to be’ that happens. Some time ago you planned to leave here by the eight-o’ clock bus. You bathed and dressed quickly, and came to take leave of me. But what has happened? You saw me, sat down, and you are still here talking with me now. You are sitting before me, whereas you had planned to return home. But there was no avoiding making all that effort.

Q: Can’t we avoid making any effort and simply keep quiet, Amma?

Amma: Even your making that effort is part of ‘what has to be’ for you, my child.

Q: What is sadhana (spiritual practice)? They say that strenuous sadhana is necessary to accomplish anything spiritual.

Amma: Only what becomes possible (sadhya) is sadhana, my child. However much sadhana you think you are doing, it cannot go beyond your mind. Your mind controls you. You do as it tells you; you cannot go against it. 

Q: They say that if the mind is controlled, anything can be done.

Amma: If anyone amongst you can say that he is going against his mind, step forward—let us see! (Nobody stirred.) So, however much sadhana we do, however many books we read, finally we do only what our minds tell us; we cannot do otherwise.

Q: Amma, everyone is teaching Vedanta (philosophy) in his own way. If Truth is one, why do they speak in so many different ways?

Amma: Each one speaks according to his experience, my child.

Q: If that is so, on what basis can ordinary people like us proceed?

Amma: Although people say many things, finally it is your experience alone that is your basis, my child. You may read everything, and listen to what everyone says, but finally you will ask your mind what your experience has to tell you. You can do nothing beyond what your mind tells you.

Q: At one place in the Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna says that the scriptures are the only valid authority (pramana) as to what must be done and what must not be done. On the other hand, you say that each person’s experience is his only authority. Which of those sayings should we adopt to attain life’s goal?

Amma: Haven’t I told you already, my child? You are asking the same question over and over again in different ways. Please understand what I am saying. Do you take the scriptures as your authority, as Sri Krishna told you? No. You learn only those parts of the scriptures that you require. Having listened to everything, finally your mind summarizes your experience, and on the basis of what your mind says, you proceed. You cannot go even a single step beyond that.

Q: But what about your case, Amma?

Amma: What is there to say? To me the scriptures have no authority. I have not read them, my child. I take as my authority what my life experience has taught me, and I am telling you that. (Smiles) I am very stubborn, my child. I am not influenced by what anyone says. I am conveying to you only what my experience has taught me.

Q: Why do you descend to our level and tell us what experience has taught you, Amma? As Jagan Mata (Universal Mother), whatever you say comes from that state alone. Why do you give the impression by your words that you are in a state like ours?

Amma: (Smiles) My child, I am not descending from any state. Whatever state exists for me now, that alone is my state. There is no descending or ascending.

© "Talks with Amma" by Smt. Anasuya Devi, published by Matrusri Publications Trust, Station Road, Bapatla 522 101.

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