When I read the following point, I realized how we too often need to engage in such a ‘constant’ battle requiring continuous exhortation and effort. But unlike Asoka, who engaged in that ‘constant’ battle of dhamma–vijaya ‘with an eye not so much on this life as the next’ (p.271), we need to keep an eye even for our life here and now:
Such a victory which has been thus won everywhere and repeatedly, leads to satisfaction [piti]?. I have obtained satisfaction through this dhamma–vijaya. But this satisfaction means little. Devanampiya {Asoka} values only the fruits [of action] in the next world. {Rock edict 13, lines 10-11}—Upended Singh, Political Violence in Ancient India, London, Harvard University Press, 2017, p.270
For many, a day begins with Facebook and Whatsapp, and also ends with them. Apart from this, because of so many responsibilities and pulls and pushes of demands from various quarters, we hardly have time, energy and eagerness to spend a few minutes with the Lord.
This morning as I got up very early , I was not in a mood to read, write, think, or even pray. So after having my tea, I sat for a few minutes quietly. Then I thought about what would be the best sadhana for me to spend a few minutes with the Lord, not allowing my mind to waver. Then I got the idea and opened Bhakti Gita, which I wrote, and played the first chapter. As it was properly composed and recorded with proper music, it impressed me a lot and as I know the song by heart, I closed my eyes and began to follow each word. The next few minutes were nothing but bliss.
I won’t say that everyone should do the same. Each bhakta should invent her own sadhana which will best suit her needs and temperament. But I would suggest, based on my experience, that just play some bhakti song in any language. Then close your eyes and follow the words and meaning but not the music. This kind of sadhana might help you to engage constantly with this ‘battle’ of sadhana. Our Indian tradition encourages chanting some mantras [particularly given by a guru] for a period of time, say ten or 31 or 101 times. There are both advantages and disadvantages. As our mind is used with such chanting, unless we use our buddhi [intellect] to concentrate each time we repeat the mantra, then like a parrot we will chant or mutter silently while our mind again wanders. But when we listen to some songs, particularly bhakti songs, we can train our mind to concentrate on each word and the meaning rather than just get lost again in the music. Of course Indian tradition divided the human psyche in various terms like: body, senses, mind, buddhi and atman. And various traditions use various categories. Personally I believe that all are the function of our brain playing various roles simultaneously. This is not the place to discuss this deep subject where several scholars, gurus and acharyas have stumbled. So as a lay person, I would think about my need more than in any such hair splitting analysis of the human psyche.
Wandering is the nature of the mind. In one film song late poet Kannadasan wrote: ‘mind is like a monkey which jumps from branch to branch; if we allow it to jump and manages to escape then it will force us to do evil things and make us fall in a pit.’ At the same time there is no point in trying to control using too much will power or buddhi [as promoted by various schools of thoughts]. The more you try to tame it, the more it will rebel. Allow it to go as it likes but follow it through your buddhi [intellect] and when it takes a break, believe me, it takes a break as it becomes tired of such wanderings, gently persuade it to return back to your sadhana. This needs both patience and practice as Krishna gives advice to Arjuna when he raises the same topic of controlling the mind:
Chanchalamhi mank Krishna pramaatani balavad dridam
Tasyaham nigraham manye vaayoriva dushkritam
[Krishna, mind remains very Chanchal and it is very difficult to control like controlling the blowing wind]
Ashamsayam Mahabhaho mano durnigraham chalam
Abyaasene tu kownteye vairagyena cha grahyate
[Indeed it is very difficult to control the mind; but one needs constant practice and self-determination (samkalp)]—quoted from memory.
It is better use the word ‘disciplining’ the mind rather ‘controlling’ it. As we all know well the meaning of both these words, I need not elaborate on this further.
30-1-2018
Mathigiri
Leave a Reply