Miscellaneous - Religion   

Discipline the mind

CHENNAI : The Bhagavad Gita lays great emphasis on Yoga as a means to liberation where the term Yoga implies control of the mind. Sri N. Veezhinathan drew attention to the fact that Lord Krishna's exposition of Yoga is directed to give every Samsara bound Jivatma the understanding that liberation is possible only through one's mind. Each soul has to learn to extricate itself from the cycle of birth only with the help of the mind. The litmus test for a true yogi is when he does not experience any sense of loss when giving up enjoyment of worldly objects through one's senses. The role of the mind is thus very crucial. It has to remain focussed in concentration and not be fickle and restless.

The Lord explains further how to reach this difficult state of renunciation. This is possible by fixing one's mind on God and analysing the nature of one's self and its relationship with the Lord.

That is why scriptures insist on the stages of practice comprising hearing (Sravana), thinking/reflecting (Manana) and profound meditation (Nidhidhyasa). By listening to God's greatness one gains an idea of what to meditate upon. By repeatedly going over what one has thus listened to one can start practising meditation.

This meditation has to be constant and the commonly used simile in this context to describe the uninterrupted nature of meditation is the unbroken flow of oil. Realised souls enjoy the continuous state of meditation when the constant perception of God's glory is second nature to them. Meditation thrives in minds that remain unaffected by worldly attractions even as a lamp's flame remains unshaken when there is no threat from breeze.

The greatness of renunciation is the total lack of ego sense. In the inner consciousness of a realised soul, there is no feeling of "I" ness. Even the perception of the all pervasiveness of the Supreme Being and of one's own Self is accepted as that which had happened through God's grace and not through one's effort. The mind has attuned itself to this truth and intuitively experiences the spirit of freedom. It remains peaceful and does not undergo any change.

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