The Monkey Mind

Today we will study about the mind. The mind is often called the "monkey mind" because, like a monkey, it is very restless. Thousands of thoughts occur every second, and it never stays focused on one thing at a time. It thinks of multiple things simultaneously.

 Lord Krishna says,

“For those who have conquered the mind, it is their friend. For those who have failed to do so, the mind works like an enemy.”

-Bhagavad Gita 6.6

 

Lord Krishna himself acknowledges that the mind is restless, and indeed it is. Even Sage Vishwamitra was attracted by an apsara, demonstrating that even great sages can be overcome by their minds. Krishna states that controlling the mind is more difficult than controlling the wind, and controlling the wind is impossible. Thus, we are all slaves to our minds. Our minds deviate, and we succumb to its desires. For instance, suppose today your mind demands to eat rasgulla. You experience a strong craving. It is not you who wants the rasgulla; it is your mind that desires it. If your mind generates the craving for rasgulla, you, being a slave to your mind, perceive it as your own desire. You then act as a slave and feel compelled to eat the rasgulla. If you do not eat it, you become upset and angry. The same occurs with other sensory objects. When you obtain what you desire, greed increases; when you do not, you become angry. Thus, we are all slaves to our minds. However, we should be the controllers of our minds, and this is the root of our miseries. We are unhappy because our minds control us. If we take control of our minds, there will be no miseries.

Lord Krishna says the mind can be both a friend and the greatest enemy. It becomes the greatest friend of those who have conquered it. However, we are often the kind of people who are usually defeated by our minds, succumbing to its wishes. We lack the courage to challenge our minds. Therefore, we must dare to challenge our minds and not always listen to its demands.

Vedic philosophy emphasizes the mind and considers its control to be the ultimate goal. Whether you choose any of the four paths to liberation, they all focus on controlling the mind. Liberation is about mastering the mind. As you read my blog, you will see that the main aim is to focus on one supreme entity constantly. This is the supreme stage, and it will come when you have controlled your mind. At that stage, you will perceive that one entity in everything and everyone, which is God, indicating that your mind is controlled.

 

Similarly, in Jnana Yoga, through the use of yogic philosophy and other practices, you must control the mind. It also revolves around mastering the mind, as do other traditions. The essence of all these paths is the control of the mind.

Everything we think and perceive comes from our mind. According to Advaita philosophy, the world is considered unreal, like a reflection in a mirror made by our thoughts. But we can't simply say this world isn't real because we believe it is real right now. Only when we become enlightened will we realize that this world isn't as real as it seems. It's like when we dream at night—we think the dream is real until we wake up and realize it was just a dream. In the same way, enlightenment helps us see that what we thought was real is actually more like a dream created by our minds. This shows how powerful our minds are—they can make things seem real even if they aren't.

Powerful is not the one who is having body and. Physically strong, powerful is the one who has controlled his mind.

But now the problem is how to control the mind. Lord Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says.

 

“O mighty-armed son of Kunti, what you say is correct; the mind is indeed very difficult to restrain. But by practice and detachment, it can be controlled.”

-Bhagavad Gita 6.36

“These (Vrittis) are controlled by practice and non-attachment”.

-Yog sutras 1.12

Lord Sri Krishna teaches that through practice and detachment, the mind can be controlled. First, detachment is key. We've seen how the mind chases after what it's attached to. By removing these attachments, we can stop the mind from wandering unnecessarily. The second key is practice. But what kind of practice? It's the practice of controlling the mind, of focusing it on God.

 

For instance, when people start typing, they might manage just one word a minute. But with practice over time, they can type at 80 words per minute effortlessly. This skill comes from practice. Similarly, our restless minds need to be trained to rest upon the Supreme Lord through dedicated practice.

 

So, there are two steps: detachment from worldly attachments and directing the mind towards God through practice. But detachment can be challenging because we're naturally attached to things. In the beginning, whatever work you do, do it as an offering to God. Offer your meals to God first, and involve yourself in activities related to God. This approach, known as Karma Yoga, helps in cultivating detachment. It begins with understanding that you're not the sole doer but a channel for divine action.

 

Gradually, as you continue this practice, detachment will naturally develop. Consistency in practice is crucial. Follow the spiritual practices given by your teacher or guru regularly (sadhana). Through persistent practice, you will eventually achieve your goal.