Hold the Reins

Mind alone is the cause
For man’s rise and fall in life;
Mind alone is responsible
For man’s bondage or liberation;
This mind alone makes man forget
his reality and land himself in hell!

Dear Students!

Man is a combination of body, mind and atma. These three together constitute the steps for man’s ascent to the highest stage. The body is the instrument for actions. The mind is concerned with cognition. The changeless and permanent Reality is the atma, which is the Divine aspect of man. Thus, doing, knowing and being are the triune manifestations of the human personality. Although the body, mind and atma have different names and characteristics, their harmonisation and unification help man to raise himself from the human to the Divine level. On the contrary, their alienation from one another degrades him to the animal level.

The word antahkarana, inner instrument, is used in everyday worldly context as well as in the spiritual parlance. What is its form, its nature, its role, its importance and its destination? When we enquire along these lines, it will be found that mind itself assumes the subtle form of antahkarana, consisting of four aspects, namely, manas - mind, buddhi - intellect, chitta - memory, and ahamkara - ego, the last three being the subtle aspects of the mind. The particular name is given, based on the functions performed, just as one and the same brahmana is called a priest - pujari when he performs worship in a temple, a cook when he works in the kitchen, a teacher when he teaches students, and a panchanga brahmana when he interprets the almanac - panchanga.

In the same manner, when the mind is engaged in wavering thought processes, it is called manas. When it is busy in the process of enquiry and discrimination between right and wrong, it is named as buddhi - intellect. When it functions as a repository of memories, it is known as chitta. When it identifies itself with the physical body, assuming the doer-ship for various activities, it goes by the name of ahamkara - ego. Thus, it may be seen that the mind, although basically one, displays these varied forms on account of the different roles assumed by it. In fact, the mind alone is the cause of all things. “Manomulam idam Jagat,” say the scriptures. It means the whole cosmos is nothing but a projection of the mind.

Man derives his name from the possession of the mind. As a man thinks, so he becomes. Man means mind, and mind means man. Mind is only a bundle of thoughts. Thoughts give rise to actions, and what we enjoy or suffer in this world are the consequences of these actions. It follows, therefore, that only when man’s thoughts are good, his life will be good. Thoughts are highly potent. They survive the death of man. Hence, it is essential to keep out bad thoughts from our minds. It is bad thoughts which separate man from man and make them forget their common Divinity. When men realise that the atma in everybody is one and the same, there will be no room for differences. Man should try to expand his relationship gradually from the individual level to the level of the family, the community, the nation and finally the whole world. The peace of the individual as well as of the world depends on the mind. Hence, the need for proper disciplining of the mind. Like a fish swimming against the current to save itself from dangers, man should combat the evil thoughts within and protect himself from dangers.

Man, today, is creating all sorts of trouble for himself because of his wrong thoughts. None else should be blamed for his pleasures or pains, gains or losses. Mind is the root of the tree of samsara - cycle of births and deaths, and the manifested universe in general. To destroy this tree, the axe should be laid at the root itself. In other words, the mind should be destroyed by diverting the thoughts to the enquiry about the atma - the real Self or the real ‘I’.

Based on the differences in the nature of the mind, different colours are attributed to it. For instance, the mind filled with anger is red in colour. A selfish mind is wheat-brown. An egotistic mind is of the orange hue, while the mind dedicated to God is pure white.

Today, the world is riddled with fear. Whether at home, or out in the street, or while travelling in a train, bus or plane, people are haunted by fear. The root cause for this ubiquitous fear is the absence of pure and sacred thoughts in the minds of men. The whole world appears like a maze filled with fear at every turn. The tragedy of Abhimanyu - son of Arjuna and a hero of Kurukshetra war was that he knew how to enter the maze called Padmavyuham but he knew not how to get out of it. Likewise, you know how to enter the maze of worldly pleasures, but do not know how to get out of it. You will know the way out only when you submit your thoughts to the scrutiny of the buddhi - intellect.

In the Kathopanishad, the body is compared to a chariot, the senses to horses, the mind to the reins, and the intellect to the charioteer. This means that the mind is in between the senses and the intellect. If the mind follows the dictates of the intellect, it will be safe. If, on the contrary, it follows the whims and fancies of the senses, it will become a bond slave of the senses and a victim of endless sorrow and suffering. Allowing free rein to the senses is the pravritti margam - the external path, while controlling the senses is the nivritti margam - the internal path. Most people are content to pursue the external. Few are concerned to explore the internal. Many people, today, employ their thoughts and efforts in harming others. They do not realise the fact that the harm they do to others will recoil on themselves many fold.

An outstanding example of this is the vicious Kauravas led by Duryodhana and Dusshasana subjecting the virtuous Pandavas to innumerable hardships. What was the ultimate result of this? Although the Pandavas suffered temporarily, in the final reckoning the Kauravas were utterly destroyed forever.

Students!

Always remember this and never think of hurting others. Don’t criticise or condemn others. If you deceive your friends, they in turn will cheat you. If you disobey your parents, your children will pay you back in the same coin. If your hurt others, they will hurt you in retaliation. This kind of reaction, resound and reflection are inherent in man’s mind. Hence, you should scrupulously follow the maxim: “Hurt never; help ever”. There are some sinful persons who cavil not only at other men but even against God. This seems to be their very nature, although God never harms anyone at any time.

In this context, the lowest category of people is those who take sadistic pleasure in hurting other people without any provocation whatsoever. They may be compared to the moths, whose nature is to damage all clothes indiscriminately - whether it is a valuable saree costing one thousand rupees, or whether it is a worthless soiled rag in the kitchen. This highly despicable tendency on the part of some persons to harm others is traceable to their bad thoughts. We try to dispel foul odours from our living rooms and toilets by using substances like air-fresheners, incense sticks, and other deodorants. Similarly, we should try to counteract our bad thoughts with good ones. Good thoughts will eventually lead us to the fulfilment of our lives, while bad thoughts will degrade us to the level of beasts. No doubt, the replacement of bad thoughts by good ones calls for sincere and determined effort, because as Arjuna complained to Krishna the mind is fickle - chanchalam, turbulent - pramathi, strong - balavat and stubborn - dridham.

Everyone clamours for peace. But peace is not anywhere outside; it is right there within us only. However, if you want to enjoy that peace, you have to resort to practice - abhyasa; what type of practice? First of all give up selfish thoughts. Then, persistently engage yourself in the constant enquiry of what you really are. If you merely repeat thrice, saying “I am a man. I am a man. I am a man”, you will be half-a-man only. To realise your manhood in full, you should also repeat, “I am not an animal, I am not an animal, I am not an animal”. For, people, now-a-days, call themselves men, but behave as animals. In the light of this fact, the animal is better than the man, because the animal thinks of itself as an animal and behaves accordingly, whereas man claims himself to be a man but behaves like an animal! You got the name “Man” because you are endowed with manas-mind. However to deserve that name, you should mould your mind in the proper manner which befits a man, but not a beast.

Mind is a priceless possession, it is God’s greatest gift to man. The scriptures have declared that the mind alone is responsible either for man’s bondage or for his liberation. So, how can you condemn the mind as bad, when it is capable of leading you to the supreme goal of liberation? A knife can be used to cut fruits and vegetables. But in a fit of anger and frustration, if you make use of it for cutting your own throat or others’ throats, is it the fault of the knife? Likewise, you cannot blame the mind, if you misuse it. Whether the mind contributes to your uplift or downfall, depends on how you use it.

The mind is often compared to a cat. A cat gently catches hold of its young kitten with its mouth and carries them from place to place to ensure their safety and nourishment. In utter contrast, the cat uses the same mouth for fiercely pouncing upon rats and tearing them to pieces. Similar is the case with the mind. It serves as the supreme benefactor of those, who engage themselves in the contemplation of God, in good thoughts, good words and good actions. On the other hand, the same mind brings disaster to those who take to the wrong path of unrighteousness or outright wickedness.

The way, in which the mind functions, may also be likened to mono-acting. Because, one and the same mind assumes different forms and plays different roles, depending on the needs of varying situations.

In the beginningless beginning God was one. The thought arose in Him “I am one; let Me become many”, and, thus, the One became the many. However, despite the many, the unity still persists unaffected by the diversity. Thus, whether for the unity in diversity, or for the diversity in unity, only thoughts - sankalpas are responsible. What is needed, is to regulate our thoughts in the right manner. As soon as a thought arises, we should not rush into action, but should subject the thought to the scrutiny of the intellect for a correct decision before implementing the thought. But, now-a-days, most people have the tendency to be in a hurry to put their thoughts into action without any such deliberation. That is the reason for the statement, “Haste makes waste, waste makes worry, so do not be in hurry”. Therefore, action undertaken after deliberation alone results in peace.

People talk of world peace. But how can you ensure peace in the world? Here is the formula for it. “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world”. It may, thus, be seen that the first link in the chain leading to world peace is righteousness or dharma. Dharma is only another name for right action. But the pre-requisite for right action is right thought. In other words, peace should start with the individual and gradually spread wider and wider right along the line - from the home or family to the village to the nation, etc., till finally, it encompasses the entire world.

You chant, “Peace, Peace, Peace” - i.e., three times after meditation, bhajan etc. By merely uttering thrice with your tongue, you cannot obtain or ensure peace. The significance of the three chants is that man is in need of three kinds of peace: (i) Adhibhautika - peace unhampered by other beings, (ii) Adhyatmika - peace undisturbed by one's own body and mind, (iii) Adidaivika - peace undisturbed by forces beyond human control. Of these three, Adidaivika signifies the need for Divine Grace which can be earned only by absolute surrender to God. This concept of “surrender to God” is often misunderstood. Surrender does not mean the abandonment of all activities, foolishly thinking that “God will do whatever is necessary for me, because I have surrendered everything to Him’. That would be sheer laziness. It is like sitting before a plate of chapatis with potato curry, and idly expecting your hunger to be satisfied without eating the stuff. On the other hand, the correct meaning of surrender is to make use of your God-given faculties and energy to perform your legitimate work, dedicating all your activities to the Lord, without the false sense of doer-ship and without undue concern for the results of your actions.

Students!

If you want to have good thoughts, you must resort to the spiritual path. The starting point for spiritual path is satsang - holy company. Thoughts are contagious. Hence the adage, “Tell me your company, and I will tell you what you are”. You should therefore, scrupulously eschew bad company. Sri Shankara has eulogised the value of holy company in glowing terms as follows: “The company of the wise begets detachment, detachment leads to the destruction of delusion, followed by the acquisition of steady wisdom, and culminating finally in jivanmukti - liberation, while alive”. Therefore, the essential point you should remember is that only good company will engender good thoughts in you.

Cultivate and develop only sacred thoughts and thus sanctify your lives. Become ideal men, so that others may also derive the benefit by following your example. Bad company, bad thoughts and sensuous ways of living may give you momentary pleasure, but will eventually drown you in untold misery and utter ruin. Remember that you cannot, but, reap what you sow. When you are born from your mother’s womb, your neck is not bedecked with flower garlands or with necklaces of gold, pearls or diamonds; but be rest assured that your neck does carry on it an unseen heavy garland given by Brahma - the Creator - the garland of the fruits of good and bad actions done by you in previous lives.

Let me conclude with a word about gratitude. For want of gratitude, man is degrading himself to a lower level than even the animals. You say “thanks” to somebody who picks up and gives to you your own handkerchief which you happened to drop on the ground. But, how very strange and surprising that you never think of thanking God for all the precious things, He has so graciously bestowed on you! He has placed you in this vast and wonderful universe, providing for you pure air to breathe, clean water to drink, mother earth to live on, etc. In short, but for the five great elements created by Him, you cannot live even for a moment. Therefore, is there a greater sin than forgetting to offer your thanks to such an all-merciful God?

You buy a plot of land with your own money and construct a house thereon, with your own money. But the Corporation wants you to pay the house-tax, just for providing electricity and water, of course levying separate additional taxes for these amenities. But tell me, what tax are you paying to God for providing you with facilities like the sun who illumines the whole world, the wind which refreshes all living beings with cool breeze, the torrential rain that not only cools the earth but also sustains life, and so on and so forth? Not to give any thought to such things, indicates not only ingratitude on the part of man, but also the tamo-guna-inertia that is polluting his mind.

Discourse at Brindavan Campus on 24.05.1990