HOW TO CONTROL YOUR MIND: SEVEN STEPS REQUIRED
In the story of the Mahabharata Arjuna's question is that the mind is very fickle and stubborn, then how is it possible to control mind so that the state of yoga can be attained. Shri Krishna's opinion on this question is that the question is right, it is a problem.
A problem is solved only when we acknowledge the existence of the problem. If we do not believe that there is a problem, then how can we find a solution? There are certain steps to find solution of a problem.
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROBLEM
The first step in finding a solution is to accept the reality of the existence of the problem, and Shri Krishna makes it clear here by agreeing with Arjuna's statement.
2.IDENTIFICATION OF WAYS
Now that we have identified the problem, we also have to identify the ways to solve it. This is our second step.
3. SELF CONFIDENCE
In identification of solution the first is that we must have confidence in our ability to find solutions. If we run away from the problem after identifying the problem, then it is certain that we are not going to have a solution. So Shri Krishna reminds Arjuna that you are powerful enough to find a solution to this problem and for this he addresses Arjuna by the name Mahabahu, that is, a fierce warrior, who has great strength, amazing ability to fight . So when we are faced with a problem, we should come to accept the presence of that problem and trust in our ability to face it and find its solution. The giant elephant is controlled by his mahout with a small curb, the huge and very fast running train is stopped by its driver with a small brake. That is, we should not go to the enormity of the problem, but should look at our ability and our skills, due to which we can find a solution to the problem. 4. SKILL
Besides competence, the required skill is the other necessary means through which the solution of the problem is explored.
5. SKILL OF PRACTICE
Solution of every problem starts from mind. So what are the skills to control the mind? The first skill is constant practice. Practice means to repeat a particular task over and over again in a particular way. By doing this, we become proficient in that particular method. The second skill is skill.of detachment, that is, non-attachment.
The mind is a collection of thoughts and habits. Only certain types of thoughts come to the mind of every person again and again. In the same way, there are certain types of habits, which every person repeats again and again. The thoughts and habits of a particular person are the product of his upbringing and his environment.
When the mind is to be trained in a particular way to arrive at a solution it must be made subservient to one's own self .The thoughts and habits of the person should be modified according to the desired skill . The thoughts and habits we choose for this do not suddenly become ours. It's not that we have heard something from someone or read something somewhere and adopt it instantly.. For this, those thoughts and habits have to be repeated in our behavior again and again, so that gradually those thoughts and habits establish themselves in our mind by removing our old thoughts and habits due to which we were finding ourselves unable to control the mind and then our behavior and conduct become capable of controlling the mind.
6. COMMITMENT TO DISPASSION
And this practice should be accompanied by a special commitment, that is, the mind is convinced that what it is doing, what it is learning, what it is adopting has a specific purpose. Our commitment goes away from the worldly things from which attachment arises, which bind us with momentary pleasures and we gradually move away from them and our mind gets absorbed in our soul, we seek our virtues and sharpen them. We start getting engrossed in in our own self and gradually we start getting away from those things from which we used to get happiness or sorrow for some time ago. We start feeling that in order to attain ultimate happiness and equanimity, we have to go towards our self. We start turning to our inner qualities instead of relying on the external variables produced by our senses for the experience of happiness and unhappiness. This dispassion comes slowly with practice. Remember that this dispassion is not to hate the world, but to give up expectations from the world, to become free from experiences of one's own happiness and unhappiness. It is freedom from dependence on factors outside of our own self. While dealing with the world, being free from the attachment with the world and discharging one's duties is detachment. Freedom from one's likes and dislikes is dispassion.
7. INTELLECT
This dispassion comes from intellect. This teaches us to distinguish between true and false, teaches us to differentiate between right and wrong. When prudence descends into the practice of the mind, it takes the form of dispassion. In fact, dispassion is the knowledge of the mind, which the mind acquires through training in the form of practice. Earlier the mind which was engaged day and night in the fulfillment of desires, by training with the knowledge of discretion and dispassion, starts giving happiness to the mind by engaging in the good of the people. Dispassion becomes a habit.
The mind is controlled by both these techniques i.e. practice and dispassion. And both of these are true at every stage of life. By continuous practice of values like truth, non-violence, etc one gets freedom from attachment The practice is to apply these values in the practice of life. It is only when there is a commitment to these values, only then the value gets into the practice of life. Otherwise, practice without commitment is just a routine which does not bear any fruit and it gives rise to hypocrisy in our life.