Mind--Its Mysteries and Control

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Mind--Its Mysteries and Control MINDITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA 6(59(/29(*,9( 385,)<0(',7$7( 5($/,=( Sri Swami Sivananda So Says Founder of Sri Swami Sivananda The Divine Life Society A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION Twelfth Edition: 1994 World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 1998 WWW site: http://www.rsl.ukans.edu/~pkanagar/divine/ This WWW reprint is for free distribution © The Divine Life Trust Society ISBN 81-7052-006-1 Published By THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192 Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, Himalayas, India. OM 1st July 1946 Beloved Dheerender! Fear not. The mind is no doubt extremely turbulent. Through repeated attempts you can perfectly subdue it. You are the master of the mind. By Abhyasa and Vairagya assert your mastery. Feel the power, bliss and splendour that result from perfect self-conquest. Curb the mind ruthlessly. Annihilate desire. When desire dies mind is your slave. Become desireless and be victorious. May you rest in your pristine freedom! Sivananda iii PRAYER O Thou Invisible One! O Adorable One! O Supreme! Thou permeatest and penetratest this vast universe from the unlimited space down to the tiny blade of grass at my feet. Thou art the basis for all these names and forms. Thou art the apple of my eye, the Prema of my heart, the very Life of my life, the very Soul of my soul, the illuminator of my intellect and senses, the sweet Anahata music of my heart, and the substance of my physical, mental and causal frames. I recognise Thee alone as the mighty Ruler of this universe and the Inner Controller (Antaryamin) of my three bodies. I prostrate again and again before Thee, my Lord! Thou art my sole refuge! I trust Thee alone, O ocean of mercy and love! Elevate, enlighten, guide and protect me. Remove obstacles from my spiritual path. Lift the veil of ignorance, O Thou Jagadguru! I cannot bear any longer even for a second, the miseries of this body, this life and this Samsara. Give Darsana quickly. O Prabho! I am pining. I am melting. Listen, listen to my fervent, Antarika prayer. Do not be cruel, my Lord. Thou art Dinabandhu. Thou art Adhama-Uddharaka. Thou art Patita Pavana (Purifier of the fallen). Om Santih Santih Santih PUBLISHERS’ NOTE To everyone striving for success in life, the invariable stumbling block proves to be the turbulent vagaries of the mind. An undisciplined mind makes a man slave and wrecks his life. Controlling and subduing it is the most vexing of problems to the earnest seeker of happiness. The vital importance of the subject, therefore, prompted H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj to write this comprehensive work “MIND—ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL.” It is meant to serve as a valuable guide to all aspirants and it is also of immense help to anyone in any walk of life. Being the outcome of personal experience of the revered author and written with a practical end in view, “MIND—ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL” is a treasure worthy to be possessed and studied constantly. —THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY iv PREFACE Happiness has for ever been the prime aim of every human being. All activities of man are directed towards acquiring the maximum happiness in life. But, through the wrong deluded notion that objects will give happiness, man searches for it outside. The result is that in spite of all his lifelong efforts, he gets disappointment only. Vexation and misery alone are to be seen everywhere. The real lasting happiness lies within man. Such happiness or Ananda is the Inner Self, the Antaratman. The very nature of Atman is pure Joy. This is never perceived because the mind is completely externalised. As long as the mind is restlessly wandering about amidst objects, ever fluctuating, excited, agitated and uncontrolled, this true joy cannot be realised and enjoyed. To control the restless mind and perfectly still all thoughts and cravings is the greatest problem of man. If he has subjugated the mind, he is the Emperor of emperors. For gaining mastery over the mind, you have to know what it is, how it works, how it deceives you at every turn and by what methods it can be subdued. In this book, the subject has been dealt with; and the nature of the mind, the various forms that it assumes, the secret of its inner workings and the way to control it are fully and clearly explained. The previous editions were eagerly read and appreciated by thousands of aspirants who wrote to say how immensely they were helped by the instructions. The lessons and instructions are eminently practical and many helpful ideas and suggestions got during my meditations have been recorded and put down here. Very useful hints on concentration and meditation will be found in the book which, if faithfully followed, will bring success in a short time without fail. I pray to every aspirant to study constantly the valuable instructions with care and follow the practical hints given in his Sadhana and daily life. It will doubtless enable you to gain control over your passions and cravings and to get established in Yoga. The Bhakta, the student of Vedanta, the Raja Yogin, the Karma Yogin—all will find this book an indispensable guide. The later stages of Yoga Sadhana are common in all the four paths and Dharana and Dhyana are quite impossible without first subduing the mind. All Sadhanas are, therefore, aimed at obtaining mastery over the mind. Hence it is that I have tried to present the ways and means of achieving this through simple, yet well-tried and effective methods. My efforts would be amply fulfilled if even a single earnest aspirant is helped on the spiritual path and attains the Goal. May the Lord, the Antaryamin, the Supreme Indweller inspire all to attempt mind-control and Yoga! May He bestow success on the sincere aspirants that struggle to master the unruly mind! May you reach the Goal of Life, Immortality, Supreme Knowledge and Bliss! Sivananda v CONTENTS Prayer ...............................................iv Publishers’ Note..........................................iv Preface ...............................................v 1. What Is Mind? .........................................1 2. Mind And Body ........................................14 3. Mind, Prana And Kundalini..................................17 4. Mind And Food ........................................20 5. The Three Avasthas .....................................22 6. The Three Gunas .......................................26 7. The Psychic States ......................................28 8. The Mental Faculties .....................................34 9. The Three Doshas .......................................37 10. Suddha Manas And Asuddha Manas ............................38 11. Vrittis ............................................42 12. Theory Of Perception ....................................45 13. Chitta And Memory .....................................50 14. Samskaras ..........................................54 15. Sankalpa ...........................................59 16. Thought Creates The World .................................62 17. Avidya And Ahankara ...................................67 18. The Power Of Thought ...................................69 19. Thought-Culture .......................................77 20. Vasanas ...........................................83 21. Desires ............................................87 22. Raga-Dvesha ........................................92 23. Pleasure And Pain ......................................96 24. Viveka ...........................................100 25. Vairagya And Tyaga ....................................100 26. Control Of Indriyas.....................................105 27. Mouna And Introspection .................................109 28. Evil Vrittis And Their Eradication .............................112 29. Cultivation Of Virtues ...................................129 30. How To Control The Mind .................................130 31. Concentration........................................146 32. Meditation .........................................151 33. Experiences And Obstacles In Meditation .........................162 34. Samadhi...........................................170 35. Manonasa ..........................................175 36. The Mind Compared ....................................178 37. Essence Of Jnana Yoga...................................181 38. The Mind In A Jivanmukta.................................189 39. The Powers Of A Yogi ...................................192 40. Necessity For A Guru ...................................194 vi 41. Hints To Aspirants .....................................195 APPENDIX I To The Mind .........................................197 APPENDIX II Psychic Influence.......................................215 APPENDIX III Annihilation Of Mind ....................................223 GLOSSARY ..........................................226 vii MIND—ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL Chapter 1 WHAT IS MIND? “He who knows the receptacle (Ayatana) verily becomes the receptacle of his people. Mind is verily the receptacle (of all our knowledge).” (Chhandogya Upanishad, V-i-5) That which separates you from God is mind. The wall that stands between you and God is mind. Pull the wall down through Om-Chintana or devotion and you will come face to face with God. THE MIND—A MYSTERY The vast majority of men know not the existence of the mind and its operations. Even the so-called educated persons know very little of the mind subjectively or of its nature and operations. They have only heard of a mind. Western psychologists know something. Western doctors know
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