Mind Control – Stop worrying and start living
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| Me @ Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary Gold coast |
I recently saw a video, where the speaker talks about how our mind is always rambling. Psychologists say that the three main functions of the mind is thinking, feeling and wanting. Thus, there is an intimate, dynamic relation between these three, where each is continually influencing the other two. For example, when we don’t want to go to work , the mind will start telling us, how painful and disgusting our job is. Thus we want to avoid going to work but, because we need that money for our living, we are compelled to go to work. Then, we are no longer interested in the work that we do or become grumpy and demotivated. The mind is always worrying about the past incidents and anxious about the future. The first quality of the mind is, it rambles. Day by day, it is becoming increasingly difficult to focus our attention on anything. With the advent of the Television with numerous channels – one would never watch a single program continuously. One watches something for 3 to 4 minutes and then, he wants to know what is coming in the other channel and the other and the other. Similarly the internet and our smart phones. Firstly, mobile phones themselves are such a problem, not giving one any time or privacy to do anything in life. Once, I in the office I was in a toilet and someone received a call when is busy. And, the person actually answered it. You can’t escape it.? Then, even though no one calls you, you have this smart phone with all the social networking apps, facebook, twitter, whatsup etc. You are continuously reading or looking at what others are doing instead of what you should be doing. In fact, you decide what you want to do by looking at what others are doing. Even though you have intelligence, as Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, your intelligence becomes covered and you are lost in this desiring, hankering, hate,love etc.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 7.27(By Srila Prabhupad)
iccha-dvesha-samutthena
dvandva-mohena bharata
sarva-bhutani sammoham
sarge yanti parantapa
Translation: O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.
So, they are done a survey all over the world of number of organisations and the survey was about, how much time one spends actually on the work they are supposed to be doing. And, it came out that people spend only, 30 to 40% of the time working on the task they are supposed to be doing. Rest of the time? They are either thing – worrying about the past or anxious about the future. This is a great loss and have serious ramifications and consequences of the productivity of the workforce. What this means is that, what should take one 3 to 4 hrs. Will actually take 9 to 10 hrs. And, people are working overtime, stressed and tired.
Think about this – Ones daily routine is, have breakfast, go to work in a AC car or AC tram, get down at workplace, walk 10 steps and get into a AC office, start your computer, watch news and stuff in internet and attend few meetings, do some work and come back home. And, you are tired.? for doing nothing.? And, then as soon as you come home and open the door, your son comes jumping and shouting. He has been doing that for the whole day and he is not tired. And, he says, Daddy.. Park. And, you say..Ooh.. I am tired., leave me alone I want peace and some rest.
So, what is happening here? Please understand this. You don’t have intelligence to keep your mind focused and enjoying the present moment. It is your inabilities to keep you mind in the present that is giving you all the distress.
As petitioned by Arjuna,”Bhagavad Gita As It Is 6.34,(Translation and Purport by Srila Prabhupad)
cancalam hi manah krsna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind.” and what was Lord Krishna’s reply. ? “The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.
Purport: The difficulty of controlling the obstinate mind, as expressed by Arjuna, is accepted by the Personality of Godhead. But at the same time He suggests that by practice and detachment it is possible. What is that practice? In the present age no one can observe strict rules and regulations, such as placing oneself in a sacred place, focusing the mind on the Supersoul, restraining the senses and mind, observing celibacy, remaining alone, etc. By the practice of Krsna consciousness, however, one engages in nine types of devotional service to the Lord. The first and foremost of such devotional engagements is hearing about Krsna. This is a very powerful transcendental method for purging the mind of all misgivings. The more one hears about Krsna, the more one becomes enlightened and detached from everything that draws the mind away from Krsna. By detaching the mind from activities not devoted to the Lord, one can very easily learn vairagya. Vairagya means detachment from matter and engagement of the mind in spirit. Impersonal spiritual detachment is more difficult than attaching the mind to the activities of Krsna. This is practical because by hearing about Krsna one becomes automatically attached to the Supreme Spirit. This attachment is called paresanubhuti, spiritual satisfaction. It is just like the feeling of satisfaction a hungry man has for every morsel of food he eats. Similarly, by discharge of devotional service one feels transcendental satisfaction as the mind becomes detached from material objectives. It is something like curing a disease by expert treatment and appropriate diet. Hearing of the transcendental activities of Lord Krsna is therefore expert treatment for the mad mind, and eating the foodstuff offered to Krsna is the appropriate diet for the suffering patient. This treatment is the process of Krsna consciousness.”
