The Illusion of Being in Control

Unless we strive for lofty ideals and goals in our lives, that requires a life of one-pointed focus and dedication, controlling the mind and senses does not seem necessary. Moreover, unless we subject our mind and senses to rules and regulations in the form of dos and donts, we remain convinced that our mind and senses are under our control.

Thus, those who think that their mind and senses are under control are pitifully unaware of their powerlessness against their own mind, and even more pitifully unaware of sublime ideals and goals that require one to control the mind by following a disciplined life of rules and regulations.

The Bhagavad Gita repeatedly points out these facts. Following verses are just two examples:

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/2/60
The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.

https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/2/64
But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.

Insignificance - A Significant Mlestone

To realize one's utter insignificance is a critical milestone in life. It opens up significant opportunities for us to connect to something truly grand and important. This realization can come at any stage of our life, and come multiple times, each time helping us realize the majesty of something else that is truely magnificent.

The typical society encourages one to believe and imagine that we are very special and significant. That's what the self centred small mind wants to believe. Break free from the shackles of the petty mind. Connect with the Supreme.

The Emptiness Quotient

The emptiness of our life can be measured by the time we spend transfixed by the grip of Facebook and WhatsApp.

The mind's nature is to run behind the next thing that comes along, and the senses follow the mind. WhatsApp and Facebook provide an unending stream of things to run after, dragging the senses in all directions. How then will the mind get steady?

A serious student of yoga should use his senses - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and touch - very deliberately and not engage them with anything and everything that comes along.

The mind can be controlled by giving it a goal and using the intelligence to guide it in that direction. Choose a worthy goal and fill your life with purpose and satisfaction.

What is your emptiness quotient today?

Mind Games

An edited version of this article appeared in the August 2011 issue of Back To Godhead (India edition).

Mind Games
Use your mind-key to open the door to eternal happiness.

My friend at IIT used to say, “It’s hard to carry on, but it’s harder still to let go.” When a college student says this, he’s almost always referring to a situation in which his sweetheart considers him just another homo sapiens. Or sometimes it might refer to a problem more serious than an unrequited and juvenile infatuation; he could mean something like having to bear the burden of financially maintaining his family while trying to study as much as any other student. But in all cases, this catchy line implies suffering from an attachment that is both unfulfilling and painful, yet one the mind cannot let go—either because the attachment is due to an obligation or, as in most cases, because it’s a mental fancy. When it’s a fancy, the mind becomes preoccupied with a “perfect” world where everything is ideal, even as the sights and sounds of the “real” world remind us of the harsh reality. The mental utopia is so intoxicating—and the sobering bouts of reality so agonizing—that we tend to prefer imagination to reality. It’s hard to carry on, but harder still to let go.

Mind: The Past-Present Oscillator

Yes, to let go of an obligation because it’s painful is undutiful. But most often, it’s not really our pressing obligations that bother us. Rather, it’s our mind. It is the nature of the mind, as Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.6.30–31) explains, to latch onto and become obsessed by unfulfilled desires, only to reject them later. For example, the mind tends to dwell on unfortunate past events—maybe a missed promotion at the office or something sad from our childhood. It also tends to dream of a grandiose future—a big house or immense wealth or power. We then hanker for this fantastical idea like mad. Not only that, even if our desires are fulfilled, the mind remains dissatisfied. Even that big house at the seaside will not keep the mind at bay. It will find something else to want, something else to moan about. A mind so engrossed in the past and future is uncontrolled, and an uncontrolled mind saps our energy; it doesn’t let us live in the present. The fickle mind forces us to run behind targets that move tirelessly and erratically. Go on with this long enough and it will lead to a mental breakdown. But it’s not actually the mind that breaks; it’s us who become tired of chasing the mind’s whimsical demands. The uncontrolled mind continues to do what it does best—torture us.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (6.6), bandhur ätmätmanas tasya yenätmaivätmanä jitaù/ anätmanas tu çatrutve vartetätmaiva çatru-vatthe: “For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.” Not only is the uncontrolled mind our greatest enemy, it’s also our closest neighbor. The combination is terrifying. Yet we tend to ignore the situation and play into the traps of the mind. In the art of war, it’s vital to know the opponent’s strengths. Only then can one devise a strategy to neutralize the enemy’s advantage and perhaps even use it to for our own good. The uncontrolled mind’s greatest strengths happen to be our greatest weaknesses: (a) we think, subconsciously at least, that our happiness lies outside ourselves, in favorable external situations; and (b) that we can control those situations.

The Nature of Material Happiness

Because we think that happiness is found in external situations – a big house or immense wealth or high social status, or even things like job security and good health - the mind can lure us into its obsessions. Impelled by the promise of happiness through these situations, we feverishly try to grab or create them. Why do we believe the mind? Because we think we can control the world and can therefore create and maintain external situations. It sounds outrageous to say we think we are controllers when it’s so obvious that we are not; yet we hanker for future favorable circumstances as if we control them. Since we don’t control most of the circumstances of this world, it’s obvious that even if we find ourselves in a favorable situation, it might not last. For example, even if we land a great job, it will not give us happiness all the time; the same job might become unfavorable after some time. Similarly, a big house might soon become a burden rather than a luxury. Thus, not only are the situations in this world temporary, even the same external situation might not remain favorable for long. The Bhagavad-gita (5.22) warns us that running after temporary external situations is a recipe for misery: “An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunté, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.”

The quest for happiness is natural to the soul. The Bhagavad-gita (15.7) explains that all living beings are sac-cid-änanda—eternal souls with full knowledge and bliss—and part and parcel of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa. We are meant for an eternal life of happiness and enjoyment, lovingly serving the Lord in our original home, the spiritual world. The souls in this world, us, are typically those who desired to experience an existence independent of Kåñëa and for whom Kåñëa kindly provided this material world along with a body they could use to interact with it. He also allowed us to forget our true identity. However, because we once tasted sublime love and happiness in the spiritual world, we are ever seeking for that same happiness even in this material world - but without serving the Lord. Since we are generally averse to serving anyone, we have developed the notion that we can become happy only by gratifying our own mind and senses. Yet our temporary and limited material senses can never taste in material pursuits the happiness we have tasted through spiritual senses by lovingly serving the Lord. Thus the mental dissatisfaction.

The Secret of Mind Control

This leads us to the secret of mind control. Controlling the mind does not mean stopping the mind’s activities but engaging the mind in the Lord’s service. Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.27.5) offers this infallible technique: “It is the duty of every conditioned soul to engage his polluted consciousness, which is now attached to material enjoyment, in very serious devotional service with detachment. Thus his mind and consciousness will be under full control.” The great devotee King Ambarisha exemplified this technique; he engaged not only his mind but all his senses in serving the Lord.

According to the Gita 2.50, the art of transforming our day-to-day life into a spiritual journey is called yoga. By constantly engaging in the joyful process of devotion, we not only control the mind but attain spiritual perfection. Instead of brooding over the temporary ups and downs of our life, why not use them as opportunities to serve and remember Kåñëa? Why not look at our life as a tool to be used to help our spiritual advancement? Why look at our life, insignificant as it is, as the end in itself? The human form of life holds the key to spiritual perfection. Why brood over the rust on the key when you can use it to open the door to eternal happiness?

Overcoming Sleep

Hare Krishna!

Overcomng sleep is one of the main obstacles in the path of my spiritual progress. All my life so far I have been used to sleeping unrestrictredly. And the reason always was "What will I do after waking up anyway?".

However, now-a-days, I have started attending the morning program at Yoga (more about Yoga in another article). I try to reach there before 0530. This is quite a feat for me and its very clear that I am able to do so everyday only by the grace of Srila Prabhupada.

As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, when one finds a higher taste, the lower tastes (or attractions) go away! Earlier I had nothing to do after getting up. Well, there were always some alternatives like trekking, playing, going for a picnic, etc. but all these occasions were few and far in between. This is another example of how for an activity one likes to do, one can get up early in the morning too :-) And Prabhupada has given all the world an option for developing the highest taste, love of God! All fortunate people will sooner or later discover this taste once they get in touch with Prabhupada through ISKCON. Let us pray that all people in the world become fortunate enough by getting the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada!

One important thing I have recently reaslised. That if I keep waiting for the opportunity to sleep, then it becomes very frustrating if I do not get the opportunity. In other words, if I am more sleep-conscious than Krishna conscious, then there is every chance that I will feel frustrated, grumpy, tired, and so on. However, if I reduce the priority of sleep and if I dont eagerly wait for the opportunity to sleep and instead become more and more eager to find an opportunity to serve Krishna, then my days become very very joyful and full of energy!

This gives us an indication of how Maya works through the mind. If I let my mind dictate to me that sleep is very important, or that I need sleep more than others, or that I am a new devotee so I can sleep more, and so on... then I will always be unenthusiastic about service to Krishna if it is hampering my sleep (sense gratification in general). However, if I dictate the mind to force it to act according to what I think is right (i.e. service to Krishna), then I can gradually get out of the clutches of Maya!

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, the uncontrolled mind is ones greatest enemy while the controlled mind is ones greatest friend. It is difficult to control the mind but it is possible by strong determnation. The choice is ours. Are we ready to take some pains for a higher goal? Are we ready to bear some temporary inconvenience for eternal joy? The choice is ours!

Your servant,
Abhijit.

Do You Want To Make a Difference?

Hare Krishna.

Sometimes a person goes into a state where he thinks that "What I am doing in life is so important!" Unfortunately, because of the tremendously competitive culture created by the media, those who do not think that what they are doing is "important" are very miserable. They get tortured by their mind thinking about how to do "something that matters", or "something that makes a difference". These phrases are thrown around so much now-a-days that everyone thinks that he should become a very special person. They all want to become like the cinema heroes who rescue the whole earth from devastation! Though people might not speak these thoughts out, and not display their anxiety to others, they are continuously being tortured by their minds in some degree or other. Please be honest and think about it for yourself. I'll be honest and let you all know that I used to think like this :-)

Earlier in my life, I felt strongly about being a great lover of the nation! I wanted to die on the battlefield fighting for my country! Then as I kept thinking about things (thats one benediction Krishna has given me, I think a lot.. ofcourse, He has given me my everything :) ), I realised, that perhaps dying in the battlefield is not the best way I can serve my country. Perhaps there are better ways.. like?

Well, being a huge sports fan, I decided: I will one day take it upon myself to win India an Olympic Gold Medal!" And I got all passionate about it. And my mind tortured me about it. "Abhijit, Do something! Help the world! Have a purpose in life! Dont just exist!" Hmmm... Well, I was miserable :)

So, I have been honest with you, see.

Sometimes people get obsessed with what they think is the perfect goal of their life. Especially if they are enjoying a lot of success in what they do. Typical examples are sportstars, who say "I want to win the cricket match for India.. thats as far as my spirituality goes". They think that they are making a profound statement! But actually, is that the case? And the fans will go gaga over this statement. "Wow! Indian cricket is in very safe hands!" And the next thing they know is that India is out of the World Cup! Lost to minnows!

Another example is the technocrats. They think that by making better and better machines, they are doing such a great service to humanity! And the driving force in their life is to produce better and better machines. And they think that this is my religion! Actually, all specialists in various fields consciously or subconsciously start thinking that what they are doing in life is the most important activity. They think that giving time to any other activity is a waste of time! For them, their activity is the goal of their existence.

And as I said, the flip side is that others who are not experts, or who are not doing some glamorous thing, feel that they must also do something.. and they suffer..

All this is not to say that one should not try to help others (and oneself :) ). However, any honest man will agree that humanity is suffering even today. Even if India wins the World Cup, the humanity will continue to suffer. Similarly, despite tremendous development in medical science, humanity continues to suffer newer and newer medical problems. Despite advancement in the aviaiton industry, flights continue to crash. Despite so many social work organisations, people continue to die of hunger. Further, how is going to Mars going to solve the suffering of the humanity? Even if we are successful in establishing a community on Mars, what is the proof that people will become happy because of that?

Therefore we see that no person ever in history has done something that has eradicated misery totally. Those who think that they will be the first are in illusion. And those who are miserable because they cannot make any such claims are also in illusion. Why not wake up from this dream? Why not take stock of the situation? Why not accept that there can be no end to the sufferings of this world? Why not be really honest?

Only when we accept this, will we search for an alternative. Only when one accepts the problem, can one try to solve it. But if one is just adamantly not accepting the reality, how can he be helped? But once we accept the reality, then, to our great relief, we will rediscover the sublime process of Bhakti (Devotional Service to Krishna). We wont have to invent anything, just apply! And our lives will become sublime. Those fortunate people who come in contact with the devotees of Krishna, and who sincerely follow the process, irrespective of their material state, find joy and happiness and purpose and meaning in their lives. History is the witness. ISKCON is the living legend :)

The reason I am writing this article is just to point out that it is very dangerous for us to get into such modes (thinking that our day-to-day activities are the end in themselves). These activities are superficial, because they are at the level of the body. If one gets involved with them too much, or one gets a lot of success in those activities, or one starts running after success in these activities (usually because of wanting to become heroes in the eyes of all.. because of watching too many movies and sports..), then there is a danger of totally forgetting the reality. Our existence will become like that of the frog in the well. Our field of activity will become restricted only to that particular activity. We will forget the higher truths. And we will become miserable.

In the modern world, these bodily activities and achievements have been portrayed so glamorously that even a sane man will lose his sanity and run after them. It is very important for all of us to safeguard against the contaminating and bewildering effects of the association with materialistic people and their ways. It is almost impossible to avoid such association in the modern world, but fortunately we have the infallible shelter of Srila Prabhupada and the Holy Name!

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

Let us once again and again and again and again be grateful to His Divine Grace Dearest Srila Prabhupada for what he has done for us. Let us once again pray to him that we never leave the service of his lotus feet.

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!!

Your servant, Abhijit.