The Infinite Mind

16 Terraforming the Mind THE NAME OF THE CHAPTER, ‘Terraforming the Mind’ may seem odd. Terraforming is a term used with reference to planets; meaning to make other planets just like the Earth, habitable for humans. So, is this concept really valid? How can one make the mind like the Earth? The question appears peculiar. The Earth and all human life is made up of the same 5 basic elements that exist in nature. This is an established fact. The five elements are: 1. Air (Vayu or Hawa) 2. Water (Jal or Paani) 3. Space (Ether) 4. Fire ( Agni) 5. Earth (Bhoomi) To terraform the mind means to align the mind as per earth’s condition or align the mind as per nature. Nature or Mother Earth gives in abundance to everyone without discrimination. Humans on the other hand are selfish beings, exploiting nature at a rapid pace. This is the paradox; being made of the same basic elements, how are the two so different from each other? As I delve deeper, I realize that people of today definitely need to terraform the mind. Here are some questions that I have often pondered over: Why can’t people become like the Earth? Selfless, with abundance, fair in every aspect, without any discrimination. What stops them from being like nature? Why are people are so selfish? Why do so many negative emotions develop within people? Nature has gifted humans with a mind. But humans have used the mind against nature (most of the times) and are destroying nature by taking it for granted. What humans do not realise is that every small element on the planet has a direct impact on the human mind. Nature is pure, original and always gives 100 percent to everything, be it a flower blossoming or an animal giving birth. Nature is so intelligently designed that it has its very own way to create, protect, teach, nourish and destroy everything. It is a process of complete recycling; from creation to maintenance to transformation. But the sad part is that humans ‘wear’ their mind on their face, on their body. Your body language will reveal what goes on in your mind. A judgemental or an egoistic attitude will always show up no matter how much you try to mask it. They have lost the original being. I am looking for the original human being. A person whom you don’t like comes towards you and there your mind goes towards negative thoughts. You wear a fake smile or extend a fake greeting, but the interaction will be unsatisfactory. The same goes for each human gesture and body language. We are our natural selves when we are born and stay that way until someone teaches us otherwise. Then we end up becoming someone else. This kind of wrong teaching in childhood is crippling society. We are one and the wrong concepts built in the mind have divided people and dissected the human race into various sub sections. The most wonderful aspect of nature is that everything happens on time, with many surprises every second in every part of the world happening simultaneously. The same happens inside of the human body. Innumerable things are going on inside the human body. It’s a complete factory run by an intelligence designed ingeniously by nature. Here is a simple and beautiful example of nature in action: A baby rabbit is born, it’s a celebratory moment. But nature is cruel to many animals upon their birth. The eyes of the rabbit remain closed till a certain number of days. So here my query is: How does the new born rabbit know where the mammary glands of the mother are? What it is like? To my surprise, nature has the answers and the ways to teach them, so they are able suckle with eyes closed. Looking at this is so peaceful. One cannot but help admiring nature – an intelligent, omnipresent force. When nature is always there for everyone, then why do only humans suffer terrible fates? Why don’t people realize that nature is there for them also? Nature is taking care of them and will continue to so. One can terraform the mind by being in knowledge, meditation and yoga. Humans are a small entity in this vast Universe and the blue planet, though an essential part of the planet. A strong mind never gives up. Be like Mother Earth, the blue planet Earth: happy, colourful, full of variety, abundance and fair in all the aspects.