Observing the phenomenon called mind

In the last post, there was a quote, “You have two choices, to control your mind or to let your mind control you.” Delving further as per Indian perspective, controlling the mind implies making it an open sky which remains untouched by the clouds of sorrow, rain of happiness and storm of trouble.  All things come and go without afflicting it. 

Our visible body encases an invisible body comprising of mind, self, intellect and ego. These elements are subtle but we can observe their respective tendencies through silent introspection. As we pronounce ‘my mind’, it signals that ‘I’ has an identity separate from the mind. It is basically a link that virtually carries the impressions of sense-organs to the parts within and accordingly actuates us to a particular action. We are known in the world through our deeds and the deeds reflect the mindset. So, in order to regulate our actions, we ought to catch hold of the mind first.

Taking my mind as something distinct from myself would enable me to observe it objectively. Sitting down still with eyes closed, shows its sequential roving from one string of thought to another. After a couple of minutes of observance, we generally tend to start following it. Instead if we continue witnessing for a little longer, the mind stops wandering because it is conscious of being watched. That is the moment of transcending it and experiencing the infinity beyond. So a wandering mind entangles us into trivial matters and if turned inwards, it takes us to our perpetual real self.

We can’t be free of the outer world nor of the inner expanse, but through a calm mind we can feel divinity inside as well as out. So it is not about curtailing physical actions but curbing the mental impulses. Our mind needs to exist in the world but be free of it.  This process is made easy if we develop the habit of taking a short break from our normal routine and spend a fraction of each day in the company of self. It can be extended to a day in one month and a week every year. By tracking the movement of our thoughts, we get to know ourselves better. Gradually, a natural witness is cultivated within and the mind, shy of attention, gives up its fickleness. As a consequence, we are able to lead it rationally instead of being randomly directed by it.

Ref- Where silence speaks, by Acharya Vinoba Bhave

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