Mind and Mind Management

Mind and Mind Management Mind Management Some time ago, I had written an article on Mind Management, following which I received queries about the generation of multiple thoughts and the acceptance by people that mind was not at ease. It was frightening and troubling that several people of various age groups were plagued by all kinds of negative thoughts and were not living lives in the Present Moment. People were troubled by thoughts arising during the day but particularly at night. Thoughts arising at bedtime reside with us and seep deep into our consciousness and the following morning we are again troubled by those very thoughts and are not like fresh dew on petals. Ashtravaka Gita (a dialogue between King Janaka and sage Ashtavakra) says that ‘all action resides in the mind’ and this is further corroborated by modern science. Modern science amplifies that there is no difference in the activity of the mind; whether you slap someone or merely think of slapping someone. It is actually the brain’s limbic system, which is where the motor control gets expressed. Just thinking of slapping someone activates all muscles that would be employed to undertake that specific action. Jesus adds further that a sin gets committed by the mere thought of being unfaithful to your spouse. On an average, we are bombarded by 50–60,000 thoughts a day. Yet, we seem to have no control over them. These thoughts arise on account of our memory bank (past impressions and Karma), the company we keep, past and current experiences, and also the food we partake. According to Ashtavakra Gita, enlightenment occurs only when we live in our hearts. Heart is synonymous for a point of inflexion where there is no past or future. There is only a present. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, ‘The Present mMoment is inevitable.’ This state is true enlightenment. A state where you move from being actors or doers to becoming witnesses to what is happening around us. How does one reach that state of Present Moment? Before dwelling on some techniques, let us witness a few stories. Two Buddhists monks were riding cycles and were on their way to meet a Zen Master. Monk One, described the number of trees, clouds, waft of cold breeze striking his cheek, mountains, beautiful blue sky, fruits plucked on the way, village folk he encountered among others before meeting the Zen Master. While the Monk Two, in all trepidation, meekly replied that he only cycled to meet the Zen Master. Immediately, the Master proclaimed the second monk to be the next Zen Master. Why? Because he was only cycling! He was in the present moment. How many of us have seen Virendra Sehwag despatch the red cherry all over the park! He is in that present moment zone, where the mind is not cluttered. That is true consciousness. Here is yet another Buddhist story—. Tthere were two Buddhist monks travelling through a dense forest. On the way, they came across a naked woman. The older one removed his apparel and clothed the bare woman and carried her across the river and left her on the other side of the bank. The younger monk was greatly troubled by this act of his senior. He kept chiding the senior monk, literally accusing him of for what he perceived as an act of sacrilege. The older one just smiled and remarked that he had only carried the lady across the river, while the other monk was still carrying the lady in his mind. Obviously the older monk, through his ‘Sadhana’ had achieved a state of being in the present moment. I would recommend all to undertake the Happiness Programme of Art of Living. Read Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s, Celebrating Silence and knowledge sheets of Guruji to acquire this wonderful knowledge of being in the Present Moment. Practicing Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, Yoga, undertaking vigorous exercise, pursuing hobbies, contemplating, praying, observing nature and just being a spectator or a witness will also help a seeker and those with troubled minds to live in the present moment. Once in the present moment, unwanted thoughts dissolve and a person is at peace. Confucius says, ‘Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.’