Training the mind
It was noted earlier that happiness is in one's own mind. So, to be happy, one needs to train the mind to be happy.
One way of training the mind is to do Yoga. In fact YogasootraaNi योगसूत्राणि of Paatanjali पातञ्जलि starts with the aphorism
योगः चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः
yogaH chitta-vRutti-nirodhaH
Yoga means control/regulation of mind.
yogaH chitta-vRutti-nirodhaH
Yoga means control/regulation of mind.
Starting with this aphorism, Paatanjali delineates eight-fold path of Yoga अष्टाङ्ग-योग aShTaanga-yoga, यम-नियम-आसन-प्राणायाम-प्रत्याहार-ध्यान-धारणा-समाधि yama-niyama-aasana-praaNaayaama-pratyaahaara-dhyaana-dhaaraNaa-samaadhi
Every chapter of Geetaa has a title ending with the word योग. So, if as many as eighteen chapters of Geetaa have such title, understanding योग should mean understanding it in so many perspectives.
Actually the word Yoga has many facets of meaning. Grammatically it is a noun derived from the verb युज् 'yuj'. Grammarian PaaNini details this verb by three aphorism -
- युज् संयमने = Verb युज् for regulation/control
- युज् समाधौ = Verb युज् for equanimity or balance of mind
- युजिर् योगे = Verb युज् for joining
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् ।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ।।६-३४।।
chanchalam hi manaH kRuShNa pramaathi balavaddRuDham |
tasyaaham nigraham manye vaayoriva suduShkaram ||6-34||
Oh, Krishna, mind is known to be very fickle, adamant and strong, difficult to reign. I reckon that controlling the mind is as difficult as controlling the wind.
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ।।६-३४।।
chanchalam hi manaH kRuShNa pramaathi balavaddRuDham |
tasyaaham nigraham manye vaayoriva suduShkaram ||6-34||
Oh, Krishna, mind is known to be very fickle, adamant and strong, difficult to reign. I reckon that controlling the mind is as difficult as controlling the wind.
Krishna could not have disagreed. He said as much, but added -
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् ।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ।।६-३५।।
asamshayam mahaabaaho mano durnigraham chalam |
abhyaasena tu kaunteya vairaagyeNa cha gRuhyate ||6-35||
No doubt, oh you with strong arms, mind is fickle and difficult to control. But it can be controlled by studied practice and by aloofness.
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ।।६-३५।।
asamshayam mahaabaaho mano durnigraham chalam |
abhyaasena tu kaunteya vairaagyeNa cha gRuhyate ||6-35||
No doubt, oh you with strong arms, mind is fickle and difficult to control. But it can be controlled by studied practice and by aloofness.
Krishna has given important hints here for training the mind viz. study, aloofness, perseverance, practice. Possibly all aspects of training oneself in any subject, are summarized in verse 4-34. I have underlined the words any subject to imply training in any subject including training the mind. A detailed study of this verse is presented in http://slabhyankar.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/learning-sanskrit-by-a-fresh-approach-lesson-17/.
How to do meditation as one method of training the mind is detailed in following verses -
शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः ।
नात्युच्छ-रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ।।६-११।।
By setting oneself steadfast in clean and pure environ, such that the seat is neither too high nor too low, on a clean deerskin laid on a bed of grass
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ।।६-१२।।
By bringing focus and concentration of the mind, with consummate control of mind and all organs and actions, one should practice Yoga (meditation) for cleansing oneself
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः ।
संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकायन् ।।६-१३।।
Holding the body, head and chin level, unmoving and steadfast focusing on the tip of nose and not looking in any specific/other direction (not being distracted by anything around)
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ।।६-१४।।
Experiencing Peace of soul, devoid of any fear whatsoever, attuned to the conduct commensurate with that of Brahma, by controlling the mind with Me in mind and heart
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः ।
शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ।।६-१५।।
Such Yogi who intertwines his faculties with mine will experience and attain ultimate Peace, such as what is characteristic of Me.
It is important to note that the final objective is शान्ति shaanti Peace, not just happiness !
Geetaa also recognizes that to be able to do good meditation, body also has to be also ship-shape. Following verses detail this -
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नात्युच्छ-रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ।।६-११।।
By setting oneself steadfast in clean and pure environ, such that the seat is neither too high nor too low, on a clean deerskin laid on a bed of grass
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ।।६-१२।।
By bringing focus and concentration of the mind, with consummate control of mind and all organs and actions, one should practice Yoga (meditation) for cleansing oneself
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः ।
संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकायन् ।।६-१३।।
Holding the body, head and chin level, unmoving and steadfast focusing on the tip of nose and not looking in any specific/other direction (not being distracted by anything around)
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ।।६-१४।।
Experiencing Peace of soul, devoid of any fear whatsoever, attuned to the conduct commensurate with that of Brahma, by controlling the mind with Me in mind and heart
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः ।
शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ।।६-१५।।
Such Yogi who intertwines his faculties with mine will experience and attain ultimate Peace, such as what is characteristic of Me.
It is important to note that the final objective is शान्ति shaanti Peace, not just happiness !
Geetaa also recognizes that to be able to do good meditation, body also has to be also ship-shape. Following verses detail this -
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ।।६-१७।।
yuktaahaara-vihaarasya yuktacheShTasya karmasu |
yuktasvapna-avabodhasya yogo bhavati duHkha-haa ||6-17||
Yoga will remove pains and sorrows (only for one) who observes right diet, right involvements, right actions, right amount of sleeps/dreams and right amount of being awake.
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ।।६-१७।।
yuktaahaara-vihaarasya yuktacheShTasya karmasu |
yuktasvapna-avabodhasya yogo bhavati duHkha-haa ||6-17||
Yoga will remove pains and sorrows (only for one) who observes right diet, right involvements, right actions, right amount of sleeps/dreams and right amount of being awake.
Actually complete chapter 6 in Geetaa delineates training of the mind.
What is detailed in above verse is how to take care of oneself or "Personality Development", if one may say so. Yes, Personality Development is important and essential for LIVING HAPPILY ! Let us discuss that in the next post.
What is detailed in above verse is how to take care of oneself or "Personality Development", if one may say so. Yes, Personality Development is important and essential for LIVING HAPPILY ! Let us discuss that in the next post.
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