JOIN USBeing continuously subjected to external stimuli, both aural and visual, man’s mind is constantly churning, incessantly working to fulfil his needs, emotional as well as physical.
In the process, the mind is restless, like the rise and fall of the ocean’s waves.
Modern science has recognised this as the basis for many of man’s physical and mental problems.
Ancient Indian philosophy has spoken about this in detail and recognised ‘stilling of the mind’ as the cure for this.
It is rooted in a spiritual approach to life, underpinning the importance of a spiritual outlook.
One such work is Adi Shankaracharya’s Vivekachudamani.
Shankara lists out four major ‘afflictions of the mind’ as he calls it. They are ignorance (of the true, inherent nature of man and the impermanence of material possessions), egotism, desire (greed) and hatred.
These afflictions blind man to the divinity that inheres in him and make him a slave to themselves.
Many such traits are inborn, but a wise man is he who controls these negative traits.
Shankara here gives the example of a pure, transparent white crystal. If a black cloth is held behind the crystal, it appears black.
But in reality, it is spotless white.
Similarly, the Atman that exists within every man is pure and unsullied, but in conjunction with the body and the sense organs which generate negative tendencies, its true nature is masked.
When the mind is stilled by quelling these negative emotions, the Atman shines forth in all its effulgence. In everyday terms, when man controls his negative tendencies by conscious effort, he becomes emotionally balanced, his ‘spiritual quotient’ is enhanced.
Shankara says that the experience of controlling the evil tendencies and achieving mental peace is akin to experiencing the bliss of the cool waters of the Ganga after being scorched by the blazing summer sun.
Shankara now goes on to say that developing a sense of detachment, namely, avoidance of excessive reliance on materialistic possessions is vital to controlling the mind.
Note that a total renunciation is not advocated.
He compares detachment and proper understanding of the limitations of worldly pursuits to the two wings of a bird.
Just as both wings are necessary for the bird to fly, both detachment and understanding are necessary for man’s balanced growth. The absence of either one stunts the progress.
Shankara says that where there is greed, there the mind is controlled by sense objects. But, where there is detachment, the mind is not controlled by anything external to itself.
This state of mind where it is not dependent on anything external is what is called emotional stability or bliss and is what must be striven for.
For, as Shankara says, greed is like poison, of the nature of death, causing man to commit undesirable acts.
Thus, “like the steady stream of oil feeding the flame of a lamp, let the wick of your consciousness be fed by your sense control, your awareness,” says Shankara.