1/3/2021 November 2020 - Practical Instructions on Mind-Control

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is article is a chapter from the book Conquest of Mind.

Practical Instructions on Mind-Control

By

Sri Swami Sivananda

Why evil thoughts arise in the mind? How are they to be encountered?

e very fact that evil thoughts give you mental su ering is a sign of spiritual
progress; for many do not have that much of sensitiveness.

To some it is very di cult to keep the mind unru ed and pure, the causes being
deep-rooted worldly Samskaras, unfavourable surroundings, and the predominance
of extrovert tendencies. To some, of course, evil thoughts are not a problem at all.
ey appear occasionally as a passing phase without doing much havoc.

Watch your mind very carefully. Be vigilant. Be on the alert. Do not allow the waves
of irritability, jealousy, hatred and lust to disturb you. ese dark waves are enemies
of peaceful living, meditation and wisdom.

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1/3/2021 November 2020 - Practical Instructions on Mind-Control

Remedy the cause rst: e mind usually thinks of one thing at a time. Concentrating
upon good thoughts or any form of the Lord, or the life of a great prophet, or
meditating upon the vast expanse and the quiet of the ocean or the sky, will be of
great help.

Sometimes auto-suggestion is of no great use because of its immediate relation with

its counterpart that has beset your mind. inking of the evanescence of life at the
moment will make you depressed and weak.

Auto-suggestion is very useful as a daily practice, according to the negative tendency

predominant. For example, in the case of a strong desire to revenge, the life of Christ,
Gandhiji or Lincoln is a suitable subject for meditation. But, what then should be
done at the spur of the moment?

If some wrong is done to you, you can never reconcile your mind by at once trying to
think of forgiveness. It will be repulsive and the attempt will be a failure.

First control violent emotions by withdrawing the mind within, and dissociating
yourself from the cause and immediate environment. Meditate on the attributes of
the Lord, or draw out your attention to a new, interesting realm. Study the lives of
great saints. en take recourse to auto-suggestion. Ponder over the chain-reaction
of the evil of revenge, and meditate on the glory and peace of forgiveness.

Samskaras: By not repeating such actions as would intensify the old, negative
tendencies you are trying to combat bad Samskaras. A great deal of success can be
attained in smoothening out evil Samskaras. Prayer, fasting, chanting elevating
Slokas and the Name of the Lord, and systematic practice of concentration and
meditation, are of course, the most important aids.

Relentless e ort to live a spiritual life is very necessary. e angle of vision has to be
changed. Regular Sadhana will keep the mind always clean.

Introspect and scrutinise your motives. e cross-currents of like and dislike are yet
very strong within you. e senses are still ungovernable. ere are secret longings
and veiled desires. Vrittis are powerful. Lustful impulses are lurking within. You may
ask the reason why you become sometimes angry. Anger is nothing but a
manifestation of ungrati ed lust. You are still far from being established in
Pratyahara. Rajas and Tamas are very much manifest in your actions. Do not deceive
yourself. A fanciful interest in the spiritual path is of no use. Resignation to fate, or
remaining static, will be pernicious in the long run. You will repent later. Start
vigorous Sadhana now!

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Positive overcomes the negative. Love overcomes lust. Patience overcomes anger and
irritability. Courage overcomes fear. A Sattvic life overcomes a Tamasic life.
erefore, make best use of the positive to overcome the negative.

Association: Live in an inner life. Speak little. Speak kindly, gently, genially, jovially,
intelligently. Do not encourage fast friendship. Mix little. A certain amount of
aloofness is very necessary, but do not be cynical, do not be friendless. is is a
relative world. You have to be in good terms with hedonists, bohemians and
epicureans.

Keep yourself absolutely aloof from undesirable vulgar literature, pictorials and
motion pictures. Without moral purity no Sadhana is even successful.

Have some de nite principles. Do not mix with women. ‘Mother attitude’ or ‘Sister
attitude’ is of very little use to a youthful Sadhaka. I am not asking you to be a hard-
headed puritan. But when you know your weakness, there is no need to court a
downfall.

Diet: Avoid pungent, hot dishes. Take light, nutritious, simple vegetarian food, but
do not be a faddist. Adjust yourself to circumstances. Avoid heavy and late night
meals. Do not eat now and then. A celibate really needs very little food. Overeating is
a kind of passion. Fast completely once a fortnight. Have partial fasting once a week.

Extrovert tendency: When you keep yourself busy, you do not harbour impure
thoughts. When you rest and leave the mind blank, impure thoughts try to enter
insidiously. Do not be idle. Engage yourself in some useful, interesting work at your
leisure hours, as for example, take part in some useful social activities. On Sundays,
instead of going to a picture, you can assist the Bharat Sevak Samaj, the Ramakrishna
Mission, the Divine Life Society, or any other philanthropic institution of your town;
or, create a new eld of public work.

Cultivate the spirit of Yoga. Instil interest in your work. Serve sel essly. Serve
without attachment but do not be irresponsible. Serve unostentatiously. Serve for the
good of others. Serve for the good of your heart.

Last Updated: ursday, 19-Nov-2020 19:39:09 EST

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