Those who collect strings of attachment
With mother, father, relations, sons, wife,
Body, wealth, house, friends and family,
Make a rope out of them and tie it to my feet,
Those who are impartial, having no desires,
In whose heart there is no place
For happiness and sorrows, courage and fear.
Such bhaktas reside in my heart,
In the same manner as riches
Reside in the heart of a greedy man. – Ramacharitamanas
Swami Satyananda said that if wants to collect water, one has to get a vessel and then one has to pour water into it. The water is contained in one place. Now one has to provide a base so that the water does not run everywhere in the same way. One needs a base for the mind so that it becomes stable. The base has to control the mind. One’s base is defective, and it is like a colander with holes and the water will not stay in it. One cannot plug the holes; therefore, one needs a new container. The mind has to be stabilized as it is always distracted and jumpy. Yoga means to fix the mind at one place. When this occurs, then one is in a Yogic frame of mind.
Lord Krishna described eighteen types of Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita. The first chapter is called Vishada Yoga. Here it says that Yoga begins with Vishada, depression, unhappiness and sadness. When one attempts to concentrate, there is imbalance in the mind. The process of Yoga begins with depression in the Bhagavad Gita (2.7).
Arjuna says to Krishna, my heart is overpowered by the taint of pity, my mind is confused as to duty. I ask you tell me decisively what is good for me. I am your disciple, instruct me who has taken refuge in you.
The second chapter is Samkhya Yoga. Samkhya means having a proper understanding of everything, like what is the mind, what are thoughts and what are samskaras. Therefore, the mind has to be brought under control. And Krishna says that the mind which follows in the wake of the wandering senses carries away discrimination, just as the wind carries away a boat in the water.
The mind must be befriended. – Bhagavad Gita (2.67)
Dear ones, the process of making one’s mind one pointed means that one must become aware of one’s breath and becomes a detached witness. One must reflect and observe. Taking small steps is the way.
Aim Hrim Klim