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The Monkey of a Mind!

By Super

Sai Ram. Are you intrigued by the title? Well, read on and see for yourself whether it makes sense or not.

I am sure you have seen a monkey. If you haven't seen one lately, I suggest you go to the nearest zoo and spend some time looking at monkeys. You could also go to a website like that of National Geographic Society or BBC and look at them, in video. In any case, very soon, you will realize, if you are not already familiar with, their activity or restlessness. Whether it is alone or with a group, a monkey can never sit still, for probably more than a few seconds. In a cage, it will be clambering from one side to another, in a forest, from one branch of a tree to another. It will be swinging, jumping, scratching itself or gambolling. In short, a monkey and calmness are poles apart.

Well friend, now leave the monkey aside for a few minutes and look inwards. Try to sit calmly at one place without talking to anyone and try to keep your mind steady on any single thought. If you are able to sit for 2 minutes without your mind running away somewhere, please stop reading further. You have arrived and you don't need anything else.

If you have failed the above test, don't be unhappy, you are not alone. You belong to the majority (I would say a huge majority, probably > 99%) of the population who can't pass the test. I confess, I too belong to this category. So, you may say, how are you qualified to talk anything further on this subject? You will be fully justified in asking that small group of advanced Sadhakas who can pass this test effortlessly, who can keep their mind focused on a single point for hours, to speak, or write about how to go about equipping ourselves to keep our mind tethered to whatever thought we want.

While I confess that I can't keep my mind fixed on any thought even for a few seconds, I have a few perceptions on this topic, which He has kindly given. My aim in giving these perceptions is that some of us will benefit. In fact, even if you benefit, I will be happy.

Maharshi Patanjali defined Yoga as "Chitta Vritti Nirodhah". That means obstructing the Way of the Mind. The mind has no way, or rather; it has its own way. It is like a wild horse, which doesn't accept the control of the rider. It is like the Brownian motion of molecules (completely randomized). Lord Sri Krishna (I bow to Him today, on the occassion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami - the day this article was originally written) also tells Sri Arjuna in Sri Gita that mind is very difficult to control. In fact, the mind has been very aptly compared to a monkey for its wandering ways. But the Lord has given a rider. He said that with practice it is possible to control it, like a skilled rider can tame the wildest horse.

The story in Sri Bhagavatha about Mother Yashoda trying in vain to tie Lord Krishna with a rope to a mortar has a lot of philosophical significance. He can't be tied by any one or with any thing, except, with love. When Yashoda failed and was at her wit's end, God Sri Krishna out of kindness, out of love (after all her motherly love to Him, which made her look at Him as a small child made Him respond), He allowed Himself to be tied.

On the other hand, when Kauravas under the leadership of Duryodhana tried to tie Him up when He went there as the emissary of the Pandavas, He did not feel obliged to yield to them since there was no love on their side. However, He did show them His Viswaroopam. The Kauravas were fortunate indeed. Even to be an enemy to Him, one needs a lot of Poorva Janma Punyam, it seems.

Coming back to the monkey, it can be tamed if caught when very young and brought up with love by a Trainer. A few years back, I saw a TV film (on BBC or National Geographic Channel) about a Malaysian and his monkey, which rides along side him in a bicycle, climbs coconut trees and plucks the coconuts. It even arranges them in a heap. I was amazed at the love and affection between the master and the monkey. I would strongly urge you to see the film if possible.

You may be wondering what is the connection between this film and the topic. Well, friends, if our minds are also trained with love to meditate on the divine Lotus Feet of the God by a Guru, these monkeys will also serve their masters with love. The story of Sri Hanuman and Sri Rama is the perfect example. Of course, Lord Siva Himself, took the form of the Monkey God, to give all of us an excellent example of the power of Service, Total Surrender and Bhakti. Not only Sri Hanuman, though a Monkey by birth, controlled Himself, He also helped in moulding crores of other unruly monkeys into a most powerful army against the most powerful rakshasa army of Ravana! Even if not at a young age, at some point of time if one is fortunate enough to come under the fold of a Guru then one need not have to worry. So, friends let us all offer our humble pranams and sincere prayers to Sri Sai Nath, Sri Hanuman, Sri Siva, Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and all other forms of the Formless One, to help the monkeys of our minds to become a true Vanara Sena for fighting on the side of Dharma, Good, Love against the forces of Hatred, Adharma and all unholy forces!

Another way of controlling the mind is through controlling the breath. I am not suggesting withholding the breath (Pranayama) unless you have a competent Guru to guide you. What I am suggesting is the simple observance of your breath. You will soon realize that when you are observing your breath flow in and out. Your mind will be calm and quiet by observing your breath. No doubt, in a few seconds or a few minutes, the mind goes somewhere else and you will suddenly find that your awareness of breath has gone. So, simply bring back your awareness of your breath and keep observing it. This is a simple but powerful meditation technique.

Another method of mind control is to repeat a Mantra silently. Continuous repetition of a mantra will also make the mind quiet and will thus help in controlling it. There are many more methods and we will study some more in future.

A restless mind consumes a lot of energy and you will see that a few minutes of meditation will recharge you for many hours. Similarly, a little meditation will also help you sleep better and that in turn will recharge your energy level for facing the next day much better.

So, I request you to take some active steps to train the monkey of your mind so that it becomes your good servant.

Om Sai Sree Sai Jai Jai Sai. Om Sri Sai Ram.