Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6

How To Control The Monkey Mind ?

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THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

arjuna uvāca yoyaṃ yogastvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana etasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi cañcalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām

Arjuna says: O Madhusūdana, I am not able to see this system of yoga as told by You in the situation of the mind being restless and not steady

Detachment from the ego or the identities will lead to detachment from desires. This is detachment from the past and future. This is being 'Unclutched

cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthī balavad dṛḍham tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram

O Kṛṣṇa, the wavering mind is agitated, strong and firm. I think it is difficult to control the mind like it is difficult to control the wind

The moment we categorize something as easy or difficult, we have made it that way

śrībhagavānuvāca asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calam abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate

Bhagavān says: O mighty-armed Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), it is undoubtedly difficult to control the wavering mind but by practice and detachment, it can be controlled

Persevere with authenticity until we experience the Truth

Arjuna introduces the word 'difficult or su-duṣkaram' here. Be very clear, the moment we categorize something as easy or difficult, we have made it that way. Understand that the ego can be fulfilled only through difficult things. Simple things cannot satisfy the ego.

After listening to Kṛṣṇa about controlling the mind, Arjuna expresses his doubts about being able to still the mind. His question is not just an individual's question. The questions are the fundamental quest of the individual and the answers are the eternal Truth.

Arjuna addresses to Kṛṣṇa his concerns about the mind being so strong that it sometimes overcomes the intelligence. The first and foremost thing is to accept that we have a problem, we have a root pattern. The next thing is to understand how the root pattern is created.

That is what Arjuna does here. It is only then that we can overcome the root pattern. If we ignore or run away from the pattern we can never resolve and complete with the pattern. Here, Kṛṣṇa has to answer from the same plane that Arjuna asks the question. Kṛṣṇa has to give a technique for the mind to play with.

Masters give meditation techniques so that we try all these and ultimately realize we are bliss, and that meditation is our natural state, and that there is nothing to be achieved.

The mind cannot believe something so simple.

Kṛṣṇa emphasizes perseverance and penance. Don't think penance means leaving home, going to the Himalayas and sitting in meditation while fasting. Penance is persevering with authenticity until we experience the Truth. Whether we say ego or mind, it is just the collection of thoughts. Thoughts can exist only in relationship to our identity and the past or the future. The mind moves only because it is attached to the identities that we carry. The mind becomes so attached to these identities that it is constantly reviewing the past incidents or it is constantly planning the future to either protect or develop these identities. If we look deeply, staying in the present moment of completion means total insecurity. It requires us to be ready to embrace the present without planning for the future or reviewing the past. This seems like a great danger for our ego.

Any identity that we create about ourselves that is less than the idea of our being God, is a false identity. If we consider ourselves to be anything less than God, we suffer from an inferiority complex. If we have the courage to detach ourselves from the certificates of society, if we have the courage to drop these false identities, then we can embrace the Divine.

Detachment is the direct technique that Kṛṣṇa is suggesting here. Detachment from the ego or the identities will lead to detachment from desires. This is detachment from the past and future. This is being 'Unclutched

When we realize the infinity of everyone, we will express our unconditional love and compassion towards everyone without discrimination, because we know that all discrimination is baseless and false. Our very walk and talk will start radiating so much bliss that our very presence will start healing others.

We will become a blessing for planet Earth and the people who experience our presence.

Goals: Understanding the mind, thoughts, and unclutching

When we categorize something as easy or difficult, what happens?
What is the first thing we need to do to overcome our root pattern?
Why do Enlightened Masters have to give meditation techniques?
What does penance mean?
Can thoughts exist by themselves?
✓ What Is the mind attached to?
✓ What does staying in the present moment of completion mean to us?
✓ What seems like a great danger for our ego?
✓ What do we need courage for?
✓ What is the technique that Kṛṣṇa suggests to Arjuna?