SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0015 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

You take great care of the body . You desire that it should be clean , healthy , beautiful and strong .

You take bath with sweet soaps and hot water . You regularly feed it with nourishing food .

If there is the least pain or disease medicine is given . Doctor is consulted .

But you never give a thought to the much more important thing — MIND .

Body is only the outward appearance , a projection of the mind . Mind operates through the senses and the sense-organs .

If the mind is well then the body is well . If the mind is sick the body becomes ill . Mind is everything . It controls your whole life . Upon it depends your happiness or misery , success or failure .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0016 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

" Mana eva Manushyanam Karanam Bandhamokshayoh "

( Mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation . ) thus say the Upanishads .

" Yena Manojitam Jagat Jitam Tena " is the Great Truth .

As you think , so you become .

Do you fully realise now the great importance of controlling , training and overcoming the mind ?

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0017 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

So long you have neglected the care of the mind .

Attend to this vital subject from now .

Mastery of mind means success in all fields of life .

To achieve this mastery you must study the mind .

You must understand its nature , habits , tricks and the effective methods of bringing it under restraint .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0018 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind is a bundle of desires , thoughts , feelings and emotions .

It is nothing but a collection of Samskaras , desires arising from contact of the sense-organs with different objects , feeling aroused by worldly botherations , ideas gathered together from various different objects .

These desires , feelings and ideas are not steady — they will be constantly changing .

Suddenly some will subside and some others will occupy their places like the waves in the seas . Some old ones will depart from the storehouse , the mind and some new ones will replace them at once .

It is also a bundle of habits . The bad habits and prejudices , although hidden by one's own nature will come up and occupy the surface of the mind as and when opportunity occurs .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0019 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

According to the Vedantic school of philosophy , mind is of middling size ( same size as that of the body ) , it is atomic ( Anu ) as per Nyaya school , and Patanjali Maharshi says in Raja Yoga , that it is Vibhu ( all-pervading ) .

Most of the western doctors , who are still groping in utter darkness , say that it is an excretion of the brain , like bile from liver .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0020 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Lord Krishna says , " The senses of which the mind is the sixth ( Manah-shashtanindriyani ) " — Gita , Chap . XV-7 .

Here the five senses are the five Jnana Indriyas , viz , the ear , the skin , the tongue , the nose , the eye ; and the mind is termed as the sixth .

Mind is the common sensory and an aggregate of the five senses . As all the five senses are mingled with it , the mind is able to see , hear , smell , taste and feel independently of the senses .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0021 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind assumes the shape of any object instantly it thinks upon it .

If it thinks of a mango , it assumes the form of a mango . Then it gets an attachment with the mango . Now a desire arises in the mind to taste it . Then the mind makes a firm determination to eat that mango and satisfy itself .

One thought follows another .

The thought of the mango invites instantaneously the thought of the mango-fruit seller , the tree , the garden where the tree is and so on and so forth .

This is the expansion of thoughts or Sankalpas . The whole world is nothing but the expansion of Sankalpas . This expansion of Sankalpas of mind towards the various objects is called BONDAGE .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0022 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

The present-day people have no right understanding , discriminative power between unreal and real .

They are completely deluded by Maya .

They are under the firm grip or crocodile catch of Maya .

They have fallen prey to worldly desires and enjoyments .

Therefore they are victims to this bondage , forgetting totally their divine birthright — liberation from the dire disease of samsara and attainment of Immortality , the Life Eternal and final Beatitude !

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0023 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind is a monkey which jumps from one place to another .

It is like the air , which is always moving ( Chanchala ) .

Just as the quick-silver it scatters its rays over various objects .

It can also be compared to a furious elephant , because of its passionate impetuosity .

Like the fish out of the water , it will always be thirsting to run after evil habits and entertain bad and vicious thoughts .

It is also known as a " Great Bird " because it skips from one object to another just as the bird wanders from one tree to another tree , one twig to another , and one place to another .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0024 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Everyone has a definite outlook of life ; due to the power of the mind one has got a definite thinking , definite craving , desire and hope and definite character , temperament , taste and attitude .

For the gratification of the mind these desires , cravings etc , are constantly repeated again and again , and these acts leave definite impressions upon the subconscious mind .

The impressions take indelible forms in the subconscious mind .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0025 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

If you constantly think of Immortal Self during your lifetime , you will entertain the thought of Atman only at the time of death and you will surely attain freedom from samsara , Immortality and Everlasting Bliss !

For this you must have a well-regulated , perfectly disciplined , correctly moulded , well-controlled and pure and devoted mind .

Mark here ! the importance of Sadhana , particularly the control of mind which is the central purpose of Sadhana !

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0026 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind is like a mirror . When the mirror is dusty and dirt-laden , you cannot see your face clearly .

So also when the mind is dirty , full of impurities , caught in the network of desires , you cannot perceive the Atman or Truth .

Just as the eczematous part of the leg and scabiatic hand is always itching , the mind will always be itching for lust .

Purify and control the itching mind by uninterrupted , undaunted and regular practice of Sadhana , meditation , devotion , selfless works , by wisdom , Vichara , light Sattvic diet , Japa , study of the Gita , Satsanga , Asanas .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0027 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

The mind in the vast majority of persons , has been allowed to run wild and follow its sweet will and desires .

It is like a spoiled child which is given too much of indulgence by the parents or a badly trained animal .

The minds of many of us are like menageries of wild animals each pursuing the bent of its own nature and going on its way .

Like the light feather in the wind and a ship in the violent storm , the mind is tossed about among objects of love and hatred .

It whirls far and wide like a strolling city-dog vainly among sensual objects .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0028 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

It whirls at the mere sight of the skeleton covered with flesh and dressed fashionably with coloured silken clothes .

It is intoxicated by wealth .

It will flit in a moment more swiftly than air from Calcutta to New York .

In a second it will be in Paris thinking of the up-to-date fashions . In short , it fluctuates , gets excited and confused .

It flits about from object to object forever discontented and never satiated .

It rejoices in vain . It weeps in regret . It is humiliated for one moment . And it is again puffed up with pride and filled with Ahankara .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0029 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind havocs through the power of imagination . Imaginary fears of various sorts , exaggeration , concoction , mental dramatisation , building castles in the air are all due to the power of imagination .

Even a perfect healthy person has some imaginary disease or other due to the power of imagination .

Much energy is wasted through imaginary fears .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0030 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind tricks and plays . It always wants to be doing something or other and when it attaches itself with objects , it cherishes , it feels amused and happy .

For example , a play at cards has nothing in it , but the attachment and attention give pleasure .

Having no idea that these momentary pleasures will result in misery , people take delight and repeat the same act again and again .

These evil acts , in due course form as bad habits .

Then it becomes very difficult to divert the mind from such evil habits which were practised from infancy .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0031 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

It will take a very long time to purify the mind and attain the state of Blessedness , but success in this earnest attempt is sure and certain !

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0032 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Aspire fervently . Be vigilant . Be on the alert .

Watch your mind always very carefully . Check the surging emotions and bubbling thoughts .

Do not allow the waves of irritability , jealousy , anger , lust and hatred to rise in your mind .

Do not allow the current of bad thoughts , evil notions , vicious ideas to pass through your mind .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0033 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Mind is generally attracted by brilliant light , beauty , intelligence , varied colours and pleasant sounds . Do not be deceived by these paltry things . Enquire within ,

" What is the Adhishthana or substratum for all these things ? What is the background of all these things ? "

You will then find that there is one Real Essence behind these names and forms — beyond the objects of this seeming sense-universe .

That Real Essence is that All-full , Ever-blissful , All-pervading Atman , immanent in all beings .

Identify with that Atman , you will reach the Supreme !

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0034 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Positive always overpowers negative — this is the natural law .

When the sun rises the fog vanishes — this is a daily occurrence . When light is lighted in a dark room the darkness is removed — this is a common incidence .

If you substitute divine virtuous qualities , the evil qualities will disappear . If you entertain new sublime thoughts , old vicious thoughts will subside by themselves .

Courage overcomes fear . Patience overcomes anger and irritability . Love overcomes hatred . Purity overcomes lust .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0035 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

Take this Pratipaksha Bhavana ( meditating on the opposite method ) .

At the early dawn , in the precious Brahmamuhurta meditate on a virtuous quality . Think of its various attributes , benefits and some moral stories relating to the virtue . Feel day by day that you are possessing that virtue .

Gradually that virtue will be developed . The vice will be destroyed . The evil qualities will leave their hold one by one .

You can check them out one by one with redoubled force at every time . The evil qualities , once you welcomed and entertained and nourished well till now from time immemorial , will all fly away .

You will notice a marvellous change . Your mind will be at ease . It will be one-pointed .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0036 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

You must think of your Hidden Indweller . Remember The Lilas only every moment .

Discriminate between the unreal and real .

Just as you saturate the water with salt or sugar you will have to saturate the mind with thoughts of GOD or Brahman , with Divine Glory , Divine Presence , with sublime and soul-stirring and awakening spiritual thoughts .

Only then the one-pointed mind will be established in the Divine Consciousness always .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0037 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

To control the Indriyas through introspection , to develop Vairagya for restraining the Indriyas , to give up the objects which one particular Indriya tries to grasp , to destroy the thirsting for objects and sense-enjoyments , to observe Brahmacharya , to fix your mind gradually on your Ishta Devata — is a Supreme Blessing .

This must be your aim in your life .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0038 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR MASTERING THE MIND ||

To give up attending Nautch party , and hearing vulgar music , to give up attending cinemas , to give up looking at the attractive with lustful look , to give up using scents , to speak truth at any cost , to live on simple Sattvic food , to fast on Ekadasi days , to talk little and observe Mouna — is a Supreme Blessing .

This must be your daily practice .

SOURCE | SATYAVEDISM.ORG