UP 2 - Manasa-vega: The urges of the mind, The uncontrolled mind

The urges of the mind are at the heart of all urges. The mind is the central hub of all longings, and of all emotion. Riddled by vAsanas (subconscious impressions) and active desires of infinite varieties, accumulated since time beginningless, it is difficult to overcome indeed. In Arjuna's words:

caJcalaM hi manaH kRSNa pramAthi balavad dRDham |
tasyAhaM nigrahaM manye vAyor iva su-duSkaram || bg 6.34

"The mind is restless, O Krishna; it harasses, it is powerful, it is obstinate.
Subduing it, I think, is as hard as trying to control the wind!"

Sri Bhagavan then replies:

asaMzayaM mahA-bAho mano durnigrahaM calam |
abhyAsena tu kaunteya vairAgyeNa ca gRhyate || bg 6.35

"Without a doubt, O mighty-armed one, the flickering mind is hard to overcome;
Yet, with practice and detachment, O son of Kunti, it may be seized."

The mind must, therefore, be engaged in activities of devotional service; Its inclinations must be purified, for any one of the remaining material facets of our being, if left untended, will be the cause of our downfall:

indriyANAM hi caratAM yan mano ’nuvidhIyate |
tad asya harati prajJAM vAyur nAvam ivAmbhasi || bg 2.47

"Indeed, if the mind runs along with any one of the roaming senses
One's discrimination is plundered, like a boat swept away by the winds."

Therefore, wholesome engagement of all human faculties in bhakti-sadhana is called for. The mind must be systematically conditioned to acts of devotional service in arranging for its purification. Without a purified mind, absorption in smarana is not possible, in Sri Krishna's words:

asaMyatAtmanA yogo duSprApa iti me matiH |
vazyAtmanA tu yatatA zakyo ’vAptum upAyataH || bg 6.36

"In my view, yoga is hard to attain for the one with an uncontrolled mind;
Yet, engaged with a controlled mind, its attainment is possible by adopting the proper means."

This is why the initial verses of Sri Upadeshamrita focus on curtailing evils, and why the direct means of attainment are elaborated on later on in the work.

How to really get rid of all ego even in the mind?

Don't get rid of all ego. Develop a positive ego, cultivate an identity in the service of Radha and Krishna. Understand how all the worthy things you've gained are a matter of their bestowing grace on an unworthy recipient.

At the age of Kali, do the sins contemplated within the mind go unpunished?

While the reaction is certainly less on account of the level of ignorance prevailing over the current age, contemplating on the sins pollutes the mind all the same. Contemplation leads to desires, desires lead to action. One should never think that thoughts are "harmless"!

How do we tangibly increase affection for harinama?

The process begins with the realization of a burning need for the increase of the taste, following in the wake of Sriman Mahaprabhu's Siksashtakam, nAmnAm akAri ... durdaivam IdRzam ihAjani nAnurAgaH! Taste and affection for the Name is something one must beg for, cry for. This is a topic that we'll be looking deeper into in our studies on the seventh shloka of the work.

- What should one do, confronted with a raging mind desirous to go to unworthy directions?

Prabhu said, prathamei zAkhAra karaye chedana - "At the very moment of their appearance, one should cut off the weeds!" The word "prathame" means as the first thing, and the "i" is added for emphasis, "right then and there you should do it!" Don't cut slack for the mind. Take shelter of the Name, your constant friend and companion. He has the power to deliver you.

- What should one do, noticing that the mind has already gone its ways?

The answer to this is found in the Bhagavata:

jAta-zraddho mat-kathAsu nirviNNaH sarva-karmasu |
veda duHkhAtmakAn kAmAn parityAge ’py anIzvaraH ||
tato bhajeta mAM prItaH zraddhAlur dRDha-nizcayaH |
juSamANaz ca tAn kAmAn duHkhodarkAMz ca garhayan || bhp 11.20.27-28

"He, whose faith for narrations of me has awakened, and who is disgusted with all works,
knowing all varieties of kAma as imbued with grief, is still unable to renounce them;
He should worship me, engaged with love, with faith and with firm conviction,
Reproaching the desires that lead to misery."

Humility and regret are instrumental in helping one arise beyond the flickering mind.

Suggested questions:

- What are the urges of the mind?
- Why should one learn to control the mind?
- What should one do, confronted with a raging mind desirous to go to unworthy directions?
- What should one do, noticing that the mind has already gone its ways?