Mend your mind

The mind is responsible for all the actions of man. Happiness - sorrow, bondage-liberation, - all these have their basis in the mind.

If the mind is pure and clear, the world we see will also be pure and clear. When the mind is polluted, then the whole world appears to be polluted. It is like seeing through a coloured glass. The objects will take the colour of the glass through which they are viewed.

When the mind is allowed to entertain sinful thoughts, it will lead the body to engage in sinful acts. Take the example of a baby. When it sleeps on the lap of a woman, it does not experience the feeling of lust which a grown up man might feel. This is because, the child's mind is not corrupted with the vice called lust. But, as a person grows, he will allow such vices to settle in mind. The mind, in turn, will prompt the person to engage in sinful activities. Intentions present in the mind express themselves as external actions. Therefore a sadhaka should distance his mind from material objects and thoughts and should fix it in the Almighty. When it is not possible, he should at least fix his mind on noble thoughts. The mind will then gradually lead the person towards noble actions.

(Sookti Manjari from Feb-1983 Kannada Bhakti Mala)