Nama Article- 25-07-08

[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna To All,

 

Prabodhasudhakara - Sri Adi Sankaracharya

 

Just as a tiger confined to a place surrounded by high walls makes repeated

efforts to jump over the walls and, becoming exhausted, lies down panting, the

mind, failing in its efforts to go out on account of the sense organs being

restrained, becomes calm. Then it gives up all effort.

 

The mind gradually gives up all agitation if the breath is controlled through

pranayama, if the company of sages is resorted to, if the vasanas are given up,

and by the cultivation of devotion to the feet of Hari. The mind and the breath

are like two sides of the same coin and so when one is controlled the other also

becomes calm.

 

Restraint of the mind

 

If the mind is not allowed to go out towards external objects, but is fixed on

the Self, it will become identified with the Self. When the mind is thinking of

sense objects it becomes tainted and tamoguna predominates. When the mind

withdraws itself from sense objects and attains dispassion towards them,

sattvaguna will begin to manifest. (Prakriti, which is the material cause of the

whole world is said to be composed of three gunas or modes, namely, sattva,

rajas and tamas. The mind is also constituted of the same three gunas.

 

The proportion of these gunas varies from person to person. In the same person

the proportion varies from time to time, depending on the activities of the

mind, and one guna or other predominates. When sattvaguna predominates, the mind

is calm, receptive to knowledge and pure. When rajoguna predominates, the person

is actuated by greed and is inclined to engage in action for the fulfilment of

his desires, heedless of the consequences. When tamoguna predominates, the

person becomes lazy and goes into a torpor). The mind of the ordinary person

constantly seeks pleasure through the sense organs. If the desired object is not

attained the person thinks that he has lost something very valuable and is very

unhappy.

 

Every one has to experience the consequences of his actions in this life or in

past lives. This is the inexorable law. The only way to prevent the mind from

running out in search of sense pleasures is by the cultivation of dispassion.

The happiness experienced in deep sleep is not born of any sense object because

at that time there is no contact of the mind with external objects through the

sense organs.

 

The mind gradually gives up all agitation if the breath is controlled through

pranayama, if the company of sages is resorted to, if the vasanas are given up,

and by the cultivation of devotion to the feet of Hari. The mind and the breath

are like two sides of the same coin and so when one is controlled the other also

becomes calm.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

-----------------------

If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or

problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php

 

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and

suggests prayers.

---------------------------