Meditation helps control one's mind

CHENNAI, OCT. 5. Meditation can be described broadly as liberation from the clutches of the lower senses and mind. It is an aid that makes a man acquire spiritual knowledge and experience Divine bliss. Without it, a person cannot get himself out of the trammels of the mind, which is an elusive animal to tame. Meditation is the practice by which there is constant observation of the mind. But controlling the mind is extremely difficult as, like the wind, it travels very fast. But this is not an impossible task as explained by the Lord Himself in the Gita.

The agitated Arjuna addresses Krishna thus: ``You have told me that the fickle mind should be subdued by conscientious intelligence but the former is unsteady, impetuous, powerfully defiant and unrelenting. To keep it under control is as difficult as to check the wayward wind.'' The Lord replied that by constant practice and dogged pursuit, the mind can be steadied. ``I am attainable by deep contemplation and undivided attention coupled with intense practice.''

Adi Sankara, in his ``Sivananda Lahari'', also refers to the unsteadiness of the mind but that it should be purified of dirt. There must be perfect coordination between the chanting of the name and meditation using the former as a vehicle. One should visualise God of one's choice by the name which is chosen to invoke His presence.

Sri Krishnananda Theertha, Head of the Sakatapuram Sri Vidya Peetam (Math), in a discourse, explained the story of a king who retired to seclusion to meditate. At that time, a woman was hurriedly moving about in that place, unmindful of his presence, in search of her missing husband. After some time, she returned with him, both in a joyful mood. The king's meditation was disturbed and he decided to punish her for her impudence. ``I have not done any mistake as my entire concern was to locate my husband who was a deaf-mute. On the other hand, you were supposed to meditate oblivious to all surroundings but how did you notice my movements? This means you had allowed your mind to go astray'', the woman said. The King regretted his action.

Likewise, a person was worshipping God at home but his attention was on the cobbler who was due to repair his shoes before leaving for his work. When someone from his office came in search of him, his wife said ``He has gone out to cobbler's shop''. The husband was furious that while he was physically present in the house she had given a wrong information. ``But what I said is true. Though you were supposed to meditate, your mind was away''. God will bless us if we become duly eligible for His grace.

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