EMPOWERING THE MIND

EMPOWERING THE MIND

When we get up in the morning, how do we feel? What are the feelings, emotions and symptoms in the mind and the body? Is the body aching, the neck paining, do we feel exhausted, enervated, is the mind spinning or aching? Do we feel like snatching a few extra winks of sleep? All this could be because of low prana or energy levels prevalent in the mind and the body.

Conversely the body may be fit to hit the gym, ready for a strenuous workout or proceed for a jog, a walk, a yoga session or a regimen of calisthenics.

Is the system buzzing with vitality or feeling enervated?

It is primarily the state of mind, our prana or energy levels which determine the next set of steps we are about to take.

Human mind needs to be trained and empowered to embrace positivity to achieve the desired goals. The mind a riddle, an enigma has immense powers which can even annihilate carcinogenic cells, kill the process of ageing, eliminate toxins from the body and combat pestilence. The human mind has the armoury and arsenal to destroy foreign bodies, inject thoughts to invoke repair mechanism. It has the unique power to even heal the body. The human mind works on a platform to achieve what medical practitioners or prescriptions fail to attain.

‘One who seeks knowledge, learns something new every day. One who seeks Tao unlearns something new every day,’ said Lao Tzu.

The mind therefore should be razor sharp to unlearn several things and become adaptable in every situation. A true seeker is blessed with a robust mind to purge antipathetic thoughts and welcome efficacious thoughts. It is in this Zen like state that beliefs, feelings, emotions, financial situations, relationships, pessimism or optimism, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats do not impact the calculus of the mind.

Once upon a time A Zen Master had prescient tutees. As part of their training, the Master asked them to cycle up a hillock and report to him and narrate their experiences. Monk One mentioned that a bicycle is not meant for riding but to transport potatoes. Monk Two opined that he was in harmony with nature while cycling, the third one described the beautiful scenery he encountered on the way while the fourth monk explained the rainbow he saw in the sky. The fifth monk in trepidation, meekly mentioned that he did not experience any such event like his brother monks as he was merely cycling.

The Zen Master who was impassively listening to the narrations of the monks, jumped in jollity and proclaimed that the fifth one to be the next Zen Master as he was living in the present moment.

An empowered mind lives in the present moment; a human mind which has the ability to let go of all encumbrances in order to traverse the path. It could be our daily chores or even the spiritual path.

We all live under illusions, delusions and false egos which act as roadblocks in our journeys. The Bhagvad Gita says, ‘Under the influence of false ego one thinks himself to be the doer of activities, while in reality all the activities are carried out by nature as a natural process.’

An empowered mind is natural in its approach and dealings. Like a child who is so natural. A child does not play favourites and stage games nor resort to shenanigans.

The mind can be empowered by certain resolute steps:

-         Firmly believing that the past cannot be changed

-         Opinions do not define the reality of any person

-         Every individual’s journey is different

-         We need to firmly entrench in our minds that things willy-nilly will get better over a period of time

-         If we keep harbouring negative thoughts, or resort to bouts of overthinking it will only engulf us in sadness and make us gloom-ridden

-         We can find happiness and radiance within our own selves

-         We should not be judgemental about other people’s approach or opinions as it really does not matter

-         Positivity begets positivity and people are attracted to people blessed with efficacious thoughts

-         Like children we should wink and smile. Smiling is infectious and spreads goodwill and joy

-         Kindness and generosity is something which should be shared as it will expand exponentially

-         Achievers never quit

-         If we take up responsibility, we empower ourselves and our minds

This is not an exhaustive list, nor the final list, neither is it a list for a neophyte. This is an indicative list for any individual, a seeker, a person already practising various techniques of pranayama, yoga, meditation or advanced techniques like Vipassana or Sudarshan Kriya.

In the ultimate analysis the human mind can be saved and empowered by living in the present moment and not harbouring any negative thoughts.