Mind--Its Mysteries and Control
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Mind--Its Mysteries and Control http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm MIND--ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION Twelfth Edition: 1994 World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 1998 WWW site: http://www.dlshq.org/ 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. CONTENTS Prayer Publishers' Note Preface What Is Mind? Mind And Body Mind, Prana And Kundalini Mind And Food The Three Avasthas The Three Gunas The Psychic States The Mental Faculties The Three Doshas Suddha Manas And Asuddha Manas Vrittis Theory Of Perception Chitta And Memory 1 of 193 9/16/2008 8:58 AM Mind--Its Mysteries and Control http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm Samskaras Sankalpa Thought Creates The World Avidya And Ahankara The Power Of Thought Thought-Culture Vasanas Desires Raga-Dvesha Pleasure And Pain Viveka Vairagya And Tyaga Control Of Indriyas Mouna And Introspection Evil Vrittis And Their Eradication Cultivation Of Virtues How To Control The Mind Concentration Meditation Experiences And Obstacles In Meditation Samadhi Manonasa The Mind Compared Essence Of Jnana Yoga The Mind In A Jivanmukta The Powers Of A Yogi Necessity For A Guru Hints To Aspirants To The Mind Psychic Influence Annihilation Of Mind Glossary 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 2 of 193 9/16/2008 8:58 AM Mind--Its Mysteries and Control http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm 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 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 3 of 193 9/16/2008 8:58 AM Mind--Its Mysteries and Control http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm 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 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 only a fragment of mind. The afferent nerves bring the sensations from the periphery or extremities of the spinal cord. The sensations then pass to the medulla oblongata at the back of the head, where the fibres decussate. From there, they pass on to the superior frontal gyrus or superior frontal convolution of the brain in the forehead, the supposed seat of the intellect or mind. The mind feels the sensations and sends motor impulses through the afferent nerves to the extremities-hands, legs, etc. It is a brain-function only for them. Mind, according to them, is only an excretion of the brain, like bile from liver. The doctors are still groping in utter darkness. Their minds need drastic flushing for the entry of Hindu philosophical ideas. It is only the Yogins and those who practise meditation and introspection that know the existence of the mind, its nature, ways and subtle workings. They know also the various methods of subduing the mind. Mind is one of the Ashta-Prakritis. "Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, reason and egoism-these constitute the eightfold division of My Nature" (Gita, VII-4). Mind is nothing but Atma-Sakti. It is brain that wants rest (sleep), but not the mind. A Yogi who has controlled 4 of 193 9/16/2008 8:58 AM Mind--Its Mysteries and Control http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm the mind never sleeps. He gets pure rest from meditation itself. How The Mind Originated Mind is Atma-Sakti. It is through mind that Brahman manifests Himself as the differentiated universe with heterogeneous objects. Brahma thought, "There, indeed, are the worlds; I shall create the protectors of the worlds." He gathered the Purusha (Hiranyagarbha) from out of the waters only and fashioned him.