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| Me @ Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary Gold coast |
I
recently saw a video, where the speaker talks about how our mind is always
rambling. Psychologists say that the three main functions of the mind is
thinking, feeling and wanting. Thus, there is an intimate, dynamic relation
between these three, where each is continually influencing the other two. For example, when we don’t want to go to work , the mind will start telling us, how
painful and disgusting our job is. Thus we want to avoid going to work but,
because we need that money for our living, we are compelled to go to work.
Then, we are no longer interested in the work that we do or become grumpy and demotivated.
The mind is always worrying about the past incidents and anxious about the future.
The first quality of the mind is, it rambles. Day by day, it is becoming
increasingly difficult to focus our attention on anything. With the advent of
the Television with numerous channels - one would never watch a single program continuously.
One watches something for 3 to 4 minutes and then, he wants to know what is
coming in the other channel and the other and the other. Similarly the internet
and our smart phones. Firstly, mobile phones themselves are such a problem, not
giving one any time or privacy to do anything in life. Once, I in the office I
was in a toilet and someone received a call when is busy. And, the person
actually answered it. You can’t escape it.? Then, even though no one calls you,
you have this smart phone with all the social networking apps, facebook,
twitter, whatsup etc. You are continuously reading or looking at what others
are doing instead of what you should be doing. In fact, you decide what you
want to do by looking at what others are doing. Even though you have
intelligence, as Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, your intelligence becomes
covered and you are lost in this desiring, hankering, hate,love etc.
Bhagavad-gita
As It Is 7.27(By Srila Prabhupad)
iccha-dvesha-samutthena
dvandva-mohena
bharata
sarva-bhutani
sammoham
sarge
yanti parantapa
Translation:
O scion of Bharata, O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into
delusion, bewildered by dualities arisen from desire and hate.
So,
they are done a survey all over the world of number of organisations and the
survey was about, how much time one spends actually on the work they are supposed
to be doing. And, it came out that people spend only, 30 to 40% of the time
working on the task they are supposed to be doing. Rest of the time? They are
either thing - worrying about the past or anxious about the future. This is a
great loss and have serious ramifications and consequences of the productivity
of the workforce. What this means is that, what should take one 3 to 4 hrs. Will
actually take 9 to 10 hrs. And, people are working overtime, stressed and
tired.
Think
about this - Ones daily routine is, have breakfast, go to work in a AC car or
AC tram, get down at workplace, walk 10 steps and get into a AC office, start
your computer, watch news and stuff in internet and attend few meetings, do
some work and come back home. And, you are tired.? for doing nothing.? And,
then as soon as you come home and open the door, your son comes jumping and shouting.
He has been doing that for the whole day and he is not tired. And, he says,
Daddy.. Park. And, you say..Ooh.. I am tired., leave me alone I want peace and some
rest.
So,
what is happening here? Please understand this. You don’t have intelligence to
keep your mind focused and enjoying the present moment. It is your inabilities
to keep you mind in the present that is giving you all the distress.
As
petitioned by Arjuna,"Bhagavad Gita As It Is 6.34,(Translation and Purport
by Srila Prabhupad)
cancalam
hi manah krsna
pramathi
balavad drdham
tasyaham
nigraham manye
vayor
iva su-duskaram
For
the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to
subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind."
and what was Lord Krishna's reply. ? "The Blessed Lord said: O
mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the
restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.
Purport:
The difficulty of controlling the obstinate mind, as expressed by Arjuna, is
accepted by the Personality of Godhead. But at the same time He suggests that
by practice and detachment it is possible. What is that practice? In the
present age no one can observe strict rules and regulations, such as placing
oneself in a sacred place, focusing the mind on the Supersoul, restraining the
senses and mind, observing celibacy, remaining alone, etc. By the practice of
Krsna consciousness, however, one engages in nine types of devotional service
to the Lord. The first and foremost of such devotional engagements is hearing
about Krsna. This is a very powerful transcendental method for purging the mind
of all misgivings. The more one hears about Krsna, the more one becomes
enlightened and detached from everything that draws the mind away from Krsna.
By detaching the mind from activities not devoted to the Lord, one can very
easily learn vairagya. Vairagya means detachment from matter and engagement of
the mind in spirit. Impersonal spiritual detachment is more difficult than
attaching the mind to the activities of Krsna. This is practical because by
hearing about Krsna one becomes automatically attached to the Supreme Spirit.
This attachment is called paresanubhuti, spiritual satisfaction. It is just
like the feeling of satisfaction a hungry man has for every morsel of food he
eats. Similarly, by discharge of devotional service one feels transcendental
satisfaction as the mind becomes detached from material objectives. It is
something like curing a disease by expert treatment and appropriate diet.
Hearing of the transcendental activities of Lord Krsna is therefore expert
treatment for the mad mind, and eating the foodstuff offered to Krsna is the
appropriate diet for the suffering patient. This treatment is the process of
Krsna consciousness."
