In the previous episode, we had witnessed Arjuna asking a very important question to Bhagawan Krishna, which is pertinent to all of us as well – Many of us might be very interested in performing various spiritual practices, however, when it comes to giving our 100% effort and focus, does our mind co-operate? Many times, the answer is a big “No”! Our mind will run behind worldly pleasures, to which our five senses would be tempted for! We would sit for performing spiritual practices keeping Bhagawan as our first preference in mind. However, once we start, we would get carried away by many disturbances and in due course, Bhagawan will become our last priority. For instance, if our mobile phone rings when we’re amidst the spiritual practice, we would immediately be tempted to answer the phone call, rather than continuing with our spiritual practice undisturbed, isn’t it? We would keep wondering meanwhile as to who would be calling us and what would be the purpose behind the call, rather than prioritizing Bhagawan over that! This is where we lose the focus! Arjuna too expresses this point to Bhagawan, seeking a solution for this.
For this, Bhagawan Krishna is now going to give a very important reply, which all of us need to understand. He says that there’s only one way to control the mind from wandering here and there. Bhagawan Krishna says thus,
“Taani sarvaani samyamya yukta aasethamat paraha!
Vasehi yasya indriyaani tasya pragnyaa pratishtithaa!!”
Bhagawan says thus, “Oh Arjuna! I understand that it’s very difficult to keep the mind under control and you’ve asked a very important question. If you’ve to control the mind, you’ve to control your senses first. For doing this, there is only one way – Focus all your senses towards me! If you focus your senses towards me gradually, your mind will automatically come under control!” As Bhagawan Krishna says thus, Arjuna immediately has a doubt here. He asks back thus, “Oh Bhagawan Krishna! Should I think of you and then control my mind / senses, or, should I first control my mind / senses and then think of you?” Now this seems a very valid question, isn’t it? For instance, if I’ve to go to Person X’s house and I’ve to ask for his location – Someone might say that Person X’s house is near Person Y’s. If I ask back as to where is Person Y’s house and if I get a reply that Person Y’s house is near Person X’s, then how am I going to find out which house is where? 🙂 Similar is the case here too – Arjuna is asking whether we’ve to focus on Bhagawan and then control the mind, or whether to control the mind and then focus on Bhagawan!
For this, Bhagawan has yet another balanced reply thus, “Oh Arjuna! There is a simple way out for this – Try to think about me for a while and then focus for a few minutes. Then once again try to think of me and again try to focus. Of course we’re not going to be dominated by the “Rajo Guna” and “Tamo Guna” all the time. There will be patches of time wherein our “Satthva Guna” will dominate as well. During these precious moments wherein our “Satthva Guna” would dominate, we’ve to use this opportunity to focus our mind on Bhagawan and perform our spiritual practice. Of course, after a while, our “Satthva Guna” might fade away, giving way to the other two Gunas to dominate. Hence, during these times, your mind would slip away from me! However, do not worry! You should once again focus your mind and bring my divine form into your eyes and think of me! Once you restart this, your mind will once again come under control. This process should keep continuing on and on and this is the only way through which your mind can come under control!”
This is yet another important point that Bhagawan is mentioning here. Thus, the understanding here is very simple – To bring our mind under control, the only way is to have our focus on Bhagawan! So for today, let us incorporate this understanding within us and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 