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Subdue the mind

CHENNAI : Spiritual knowledge is described as the culmination of all disciplines as it liberates man from bondage. Action (Karma) causes bondage but the same Karma can also release man from rebirth if the person develops the right attitude when action becomes transformed into Karma yoga. Prahlada afforded this insight when his father Hiranyakasipu asked him what he had learnt at school.

The child-devotee replied that all knowledge did not qualify to be termed `Vidya'; only that knowledge which is liberating was Vidya and such actions that promote Vidya could be termed Karma. Yoga means, "to unite", and naturally the question as to which two it unites arises. It is the union of the spiritual seeker with God and the means to unite is devotion.

In his discourse, Sri C.L.Ramakrishnan said the first six chapters of the Bhagavad Gita focussed on Karma yoga, which was the foundation for Bhakti yoga. A spiritual seeker must first learn to perform action without attachment to the result by control of the mind. Arjuna was however doubtful whether it was possible and he expressed his reservation by pointing out that the mind by nature was very unsteady, turbulent, tenacious and powerful, and hence difficult to control. Besides he also asked what happened to a seeker, who, though endowed with faith, was unable to subdue his mind at the time of death and thus was diverted from Yoga, as he would neither attain God-realisation nor enjoy heavenly enjoyment (having surrendered the fruit of his actions to God).

Lord Krishna then assured him that one who has embarked on the spiritual path would not meet evil destiny and there will be further progess. The next birth for one who has not achieved the end of Yoga (liberation) would be in a congenial environment to enable him to progress spiritually and the person will not lose the spiritual insight he has developed in his previous birth. As for the mind, Lord Krishna acceded that it was difficult to control, "but it can be brought under control by repeated practice (of meditation) and by the exercise of dispassion."

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The Hindu Crossword No. 8723
Solution to Puzzle No. 8722
Subdue the mind
dated October 5, 1956: Bilingual Bombay
dated October 5, 1956: K. Ramnoth dead
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