Thursday, October 9, 2014

UNTAMED MIND LEADS TO DISASTER

The mind of man can be compared to an invincible enemy grown extremely powerful be-cause of his own negligence. It is a field that yields a bumper harvest of the ills of the transmigratory life. Having become turbulent because of man's indifference, the mind cannot be controlled and it will lead him to ruin or cause irreparable damage. Emphasis is laid on curbing the vagaries of the mind because it generates desires, infatuation and sufferings. The mind, when attached to the sense objects, causes misery and when it is kept pure, liberation could be achieved. Many liken it to a burglar seated within a man, ready to blunt or rob his faculties. One of the best examples of how the mind works is that of a humble worker who has put in a number of years of service in a big factory. One day he conceals a manufactured product and his act escapes the attention of the watchmen. He repeats it as he has not been caught. As days pass, he is emboldened to lift a number of objects, without the sentries being aware of his misdeed. The practice continues and he commits the theft on a large scale. Even after new guards are posted, he continues with his stealing habit.

The mind, when allowed to go astray be-cause of man's indifference or negligence or connivance, turns insolent, refusing to obey when a crucial situation arises. The only way to sub-due its arrogance is to use the "arrow of service "to God and to the spiritual guide (Guru). The graces of the Divine will be available through the meditation of the spiritual mentor. The master who leads an aspirant to God should be treated as God him-self, revered and his advice followed as he provides enlightenment. He should not be considered as an ordinary person. With his help, mind, the villain, can be quelled. The formula of seeking the guidance of the teacher and submitting oneself before god to curb the mind forms part of a dissertation given by (Jada)Bharatha to a king, who initially thought that he was a madcap. Bharatha's detailed account of the phenomenal nature of the world, the working of the mind and allied topics provide a proper per-spective of life. God alone is unaffected by the concept of time, dimension and space, whereas the ordinary human being undergoes changes and even the world goes through alterations. Like the body which is subject to decay, the universe undergoes various processes of change and thus both can be stated to be impermanent. The ultimate truth is called by the sages"Bhagavan" possessor of all Divine majesties.

In the Brihan-naradiya Purana it is said that in Kali-yuga (the present yuga, or age), when people in general are short-lived, slow in spiritual realization and always disturbed by various anxieties, the best means of spiritual realization is chanting the holy name of the Lord.

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21]

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."

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