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In its chapter on the Yoga of Meditation, the Bhagavad Gita gives a comprehensive picture of what constitutes this Yoga and defines it as withdrawal of the mind from the sensory pulls of the world after which the mind tends to run.
This Yoga needs to be practiced with a firm resolve and with a pure mind, unencumbered with any sort of preconceived notions, says the Gita. “All very nice to hear, but is it really possible to put this into practice, the mind being what it is- fickle and restless”? asks the Prince Arjuna to his mentor Lord Krishna who is addressing him. “True, you say that the mind should be as stable and motionless like the flame of a lamp in a room where there is no breeze. But trying to rein in this roving mind is as futile and impossible as trying to control the wind. The mind overpowers us, ensnares us and leads us into trouble” is Arjuna’s question.
In the words of the Upanishads, “the mind is like a wild, uncontrolled horse, always running behind the myriad attractions of the world.” The rider has to quickly mount it, firmly sit astride it, rein it in and make it obey his commands. Otherwise, the horse will run wherever it feels like and may even dislodge him from his seat and throw him onto the ground, given its strength. The answer given by Lord Krishna is an object lesson to mankind. “Yes, without doubt, irrefutably, the mind is fickle and trying to control it is very difficult”. This is the first step- accepting the existence of the problem. Then comes the second part of the answer, the solution to the problem - “still, O Arjuna, with practice and dispassion (non-attachment), it is possible to catch hold of the mind and rein it in”. Revered Swami Chinmayananda quotes Adi Shankaracharya who defined practice as “effort and repeated effort till the result is achieved”. And what is the result?
A gradual lessening of the overpowering desires for sensory pleasures, thus making the mind stronger and fit for Yoga of meditation. “Practice and dispassion are like the two wings of a bird. Only when both the wings work in unison, the bird can soar high. Else, it will be crippled” says Swami Chinmayananda eloquently. “Accept the problem, take remedial measures and grow in life” is the message of the Gita.