(From the discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji)

Compiled by Swami Datta Pada Renu

He who has been in communion with his Self sees the same Self everywhere. He views the entire universe and the different objects in it, the movables and the immovables, in the likeness of his own self. Whatever is unpleasant to hem, he considers as unpleasant to others. As he does not like to be harmed by others, he also does not cause any harm to others. He considers an injury done to others as an injury to his own self. So the real Yogi never injures anyone. He loves others as he loves his own self. He feels for others as he feels for himself.

As happiness is dear to him, so also he realises that happiness is dear to all creatures. As sorrow is unfavourable to him, so also he feels sorrow is unwelcome to all creatures. In this way he looks upon happiness and sorrow as pleasant and unpleasant to all beings by the same standard as he would apply to himself. Such a Yogi is considered as the best among all Yogis.

Noticing that this Yoga as spoken of by the Lord is hard to acquire, Arjuna in order to hear the same means to its attainment, said:

"O!Madhusoodana(Krishna), this yoga of evenness which has been declared by you, I do not see its firm endurance, owing to unsteadiness (of mind)" (33-VI)

"For, O!Krishna, the mind is unsteady, turbulent, strong and obstinate. I consider its control to be as greatly difficult as of the wind." (34-VI)

The mind by nature is fickle and unsteady. It is also turbulent (pramathi), because it torments and agitates the body and the organs. It brings the body and the mind under extraneous control. Besides, it is strong (balavan) as it is not amenable to one's control. It is also obstinate (dridham). How can such a mind be controlled and trained in order to attain the Yoga of evenness? This question started haunting Arjuna. And so he asked the Lord, "O! Krishna, the mind is most unsteady. It always wanders in all directions. I think its control is very hard to achieve like that of the wind"

Thereupon the blessed Lord said, "doubtless, Arjuna, the mind is restless and difficult to control; but it can be controlled by practice and detachment." (35-VI)

The Lord agrees that it is very difficult to control the mind due to its restless nature. But still there are two methods by which this turbulent mind can be brought under control. They are 1.Practice (Abhyaasa) and 2. Detachment(Vairaagya).

Our mind has an extraordinary quality. It gets easily attached to what it likes and it does not even think of moving in the direction of what it does not like. This is the inherent quality of the mind. Therefore he who wants to control his mind should see that he has no attachment to sensual objects of enjoyment. He should attach himself to the thought of God and nothing else. But how can one have the constant remembrance of God? To be able to do this, the Lord has indicated two ways - 'Abhyaasa' and 'Vairaagya', i.e., practice and detachment.

As a baby learns to walk by practice, the Yogi ascends the peak of Yoga by practice alone. The Yogi has to make a constant effort to control the mind and never leave the struggle even for a moment. Practice becomes perfect when carried on for a long period of time and without interruption.

Secondly, absence of attachment or dispassion(Vairagya) should be developed in order to make the mind steady and peaceful. If a man tries to quieten his mind, it may remain quiet for some time. But the moment his mind becomes attracted to a sensual object, it causes such an internal agitation in him that he is subjected to a total disturbance and cessation of peace. Therefore the mind is called turbulent (pramathi)

To control such a turbulent mind, one should develop detachment. One should give up hankering for the enjoyment of sensual pleasures through the practice of discovering defects in them. By means of this detachment the distractions of the mind are arrested and brought under control.