विवेचन सारांश

Bhagavān Teaches Us How to Control the Mind and Become a True Yogī

In this śloka Bhagavān explains how desires slowly begin in the mind.

A very beautiful example was given to explain the concept of Saṅkalpa or resolve.

Suppose while walking on the road we suddenly see a beautiful new car like an Audi or a Benz. Immediately a thought may come to the mind, “Oh, this is such a beautiful car.”

If we have viveka, we simply appreciate it and stop there. We say, “It is a very beautiful car,” and the mind becomes quiet again. However, if there is no viveka, then the next thought that comes is “I want this car.”

Thus, desire starts growing in our mind. After that the mind begins thinking about the price, how to earn money for it and so forth.

The children were also given examples of toys and remote-control cars. Sometimes we see a beautiful toy jumping or flying and immediately feel, “I want this!”

Everything we see in shops does not have to become ours. Parents already lovingly give us what we truly need. We receive gifts on birthdays and many other occasions. It is not necessary to get gifts all the time. We should learn to control the mind from constant want.

Bhagavān explains that people who want to attain the joy of Paramātmā slowly learn to stop these desires at the beginning itself. It is not necessary that everything beautiful must belong to us.

A wise person learns to enjoy something without becoming attached to it.

Bhagavān in this śloka, explains that such control happens Śanaiḥ śanaiḥ, that is gradually, step by step.

When desires arise in the mind, we should patiently bring the mind back and slowly calm it down. Good children learns to control unnecessary wants.

When the mind becomes peaceful and pure, then with patience and determination we are able to place our mind in Bhagavān.

During meditation, other thoughts slowly reduce, and the mind remains focused only on Paramātmā.

Bhagavān here says the mind is naturally very restless and gets distracted very easily. It keeps running here and there all the time.

While sitting for meditation, suddenly we hear the sound from the fan, or the mosquito, somebody talking nearby, or delicious food being prepared in the kitchen. Immediately, the mind gets diverted towards it.

A very beautiful example was given of a crawling baby.

Sometimes babies see shiny shoes or colourful sandals kept near the shoe rack. Some sandals even have stones, lights or toy decorations on them. The baby becomes attracted and crawls towards them. Sometimes babies even try putting slippers into their mouths.

But does the mother allow that? The answer is 'No'. The mother immediately picks up the baby and takes him somewhere else. The baby, however, gets a chance to crawl back towards the slippers. Again, the mother lovingly takes the child away from the slippers.

In the same way, whenever our mind runs here and there during meditation, we must lovingly bring it back towards Bhagavān, again and again.

“No, this is not the time for playing or eating. Now is the time to think about Bhagavān.” Is what we should tell our minds.

That is how the mind slowly comes under control.

Bhagavān here explains that one day the mind becomes Praśānta or peaceful when we continuously train it to think about Him.

When we do that, unnecessary thoughts slowly reduce. With this even, Rajo-guṇa becomes calm which otherwise is constantly busy thinking, “Should I play now?” or “Should I eat?”  and so forth.

However, when the mind becomes peaceful, the constant restless thoughts reduce and the yogī experiences happiness in Paramātmā and remains absorbed in divine joy.

In this śloka, Bhagavān says that a true yogī experiences the bliss of Parabrahmān.

Let us think of the immense joy someone who climbs all the way to the top of Kargil peak and finally places the national flag experiences. Similarly, immense joy arises within a yogī when he reaches the peak of yoga and experiences Bhagavān.

After experiencing that divine bliss, other enjoyments no longer have any meaning for him or attracts his mind.

Even if chocolates, ice creams or favourite foods are placed before such a yogī, they do not feel attracted because they are already absorbed in the joy of Bhagavān.

After attaining this state of bliss, the yogī begins seeing Bhagavān equally in everyone.

Whether friend or enemy, all beings are seen with equal vision because Bhagavān exists in everyone.

The yogī understands that the same Bhagavān residing within him is equally present in every being.

Here, Bhagavān says that one who sees Him everywhere always remains connected with Him.

When somebody constantly remembers Bhagavān, Bhagavān also always remembers them.

Bhagavān says that a true yogī sees Him in all beings and therefore behaves lovingly towards everyone.

Since the yogī knows that Bhagavān has created all beings, he develops equal respect towards everyone. For them, anger and harshness towards others reduces because the yogī feels that he is speaking with Bhagavān who is present inside every person.

Bhagavān tells Arjuna that the highest yogī is one who sees everyone equally and remains balanced in both happiness and sorrow. Such a yogī is called Parama śreṣṭha — the greatest yogī.

The children were reminded of the message of Geeta Pariwar, which is Learn Geeta, Teach Geeta, Live Geeta. When we truly bring the teachings of Gītā into our life, we slowly begin to develop this equal vision.

After hearing Bhagavān, Arjuna addressing him as Madhusūdana says, “This yoga of equal vision that You are explaining seems very difficult because the mind is so restless.”

Arjuna explains says that the mind is extremely restless, strong and difficult to control.

He compares the mind to the wind. Just as the wind keeps moving everywhere freely, the mind also keeps moving in all directions. He says that controlling the mind feels as difficult as controlling the wind.

Addressing Arjuna as Mahābāho, Bhagavān replies lovingly that yes, the mind is indeed restless. There is no doubt about that.

He however says that it can be controlled through:

• Abhyāsa — constant practice and
• Vairāgya — detachment

A simple example was given. If we are studying and suddenly someone touches our favorite toy, immediately the mind gets distracted if we are very attached to it. But if attachment is less, we continue studying peacefully.

Similarly, through practice and detachment the mind slowly comes under control.

The children were reminded of a similar teaching from the ninth śloka of Chapter – 12 where Bhagavān says abhyāsa-yogena tato.

Bhagavān says that yoga is difficult for one who cannot control the mind. However, for one who sincerely makes effort and keeps practising, yoga becomes possible.

So, if we want to attain Bhagavān, we must continuously try to control the mind and sincerely practise meditation.

After hearing Bhagavān explain the importance of practice and control of the mind, Arjuna asks another very thoughtful question.

Arjuna says, “Suppose a person has faith and sincerely wants to practise yoga. They also make effort, but due to some reason their mind becomes distracted, and they are unable to complete the journey of yoga. Then what happens to such a seeker?”

Arjuna wanted to know whether such a person is still able to attain Bhagavān or not.

Arjuna gives a very beautiful example here.

Sometimes dark clouds gather in the sky, and everyone feels rain is about to come. But suddenly the clouds scatter away and no rain happens.

In the same way, Arjuna asks whether a seeker who starts walking on the spiritual path but cannot complete it becomes lost like those scattered clouds.

Does all the effort go waste? This was Arjuna’s doubt.

Arjuna then very humbly tells Śrī Krishna that nobody other than Bhagavān Himself can properly answer this question and remove the confusion from his heart.

Bhagavān gives a great assurance here. He tells Arjuna that anyone who sincerely walks on the path towards Bhagavān never gets destroyed. Neither in this world nor in the next world does such a person meet with downfall.

All sincere effort towards Bhagavān is always protected.

If we sincerely think of Bhagavān and try to remember Him, that effort never goes waste.

Bhagavān explains that if such a yogī is unable to complete the spiritual journey in one life, then after death they attain higher worlds because of their sincere efforts and puṇya (good deeds).

Later, they take birth again in noble families. Bhagavān says they may be born in prosperous families, but prosperity here does not only mean money. It can  mean richness in knowledge, values and good qualities.

Bhagavān further says that some such seekers take birth in the families of wise yogīs and spiritually evolved people. Such births are very rare.

Ādi Śaṅkarācārya Ji and Sant Jñāneśwar Mahārāj Ji were respectfully mentioned as examples of such yogīs. Even at a very young age they possessed deep spiritual wisdom.

Sometimes we see very small children in Geeta Pariwar chant many chapters of Gītā beautifully at a very young age. This happens because of strong saṁskāras carried from previous births.

Bhagavān explains that the spiritual saṁskāras from previous births help such seekers continue their journey in the next birth also.

Due to their earlier practice, they naturally feel attracted towards Bhagavān, temples, pūjā and Gītā.

Some children naturally love listening to stories of Bhagavān and visiting temples even from a very young age. These are signs of spiritual saṁskāras (spiritual impressions) carried from previous births.

Bhagavān says that because of the practice done in previous births, such seekers are automatically drawn once again towards the spiritual path. Even with a little more effort in this birth, they continue progressing further towards Bhagavān and move ahead on the path of yoga.

Here, Bhagavān says that through sincere effort over many births, the yogī gradually becomes purified and finally attains the supreme goal.

Thus, He affirms that sincere effort is never wasted. That was the answer to Arjuna’s doubt. Even if someone cannot complete the journey in one birth, they continue progressing in future births.

Bhagavān then explains that a yogī is greater than even tapasvīs (ascetic), greater than scholars who possess only scriptural knowledge, and also greater than those who perform actions only for rewards.

Therefore, Bhagavān advises Arjuna, Tasmād yogī bhavārjuna.  He says, “Therefore, Arjuna, become a yogī.”

The children were reminded that becoming a yogī means practising all the steps of yoga sincerely and slowly progressing towards Bhagavān.

Finally, Bhagavān explains who the greatest yogī is.

He says that among all yogīs, the greatest is the one who worships Bhagavān with faith, devotion and full sincerity from within.

Faith is very important. Bhagavān cannot be realized through doubt and challenge.

With śraddhā (faith), bhakti and sincere effort, we slowly move closer towards Paramātmā.

At the end, the children were reminded of everything they had learnt throughout the Gītā:

• divine qualities,
• sattvic living,
• niṣkāma karma,
• proper speech,
• yajña,
• tapah,
• bhakti,
• meditation,
• and offering all actions to Bhagavān.

By practising all these teachings in life, we slowly become true yogīs.

The enlightening vivechan session was offered to the lotus feet of Bhagavān Śrī Krishna and concluded with prayer to Bhagavān Śrī Krishna and rendition of Hanuman Chalisa.