Anchor the Mind to Its Source

The mind is both the source of joy and sorrow. Since the seeker associates himself or herself to be an entity with a mind, the entity goes up and down with the mind. Hence, the feeling of being happy or sad. This problem of ups and downs is the reason most seek out an answer.  Everyone wants to be only happy and who would not? There are two ways to go about figuring out how to get out of this mess.  The best way is to disregard the mind and investigate the entity ("me"). The other way is to investigate the mind itself and realize its nature, its functioning and source.

A lot of spiritual practices will encourage one to control the mind.  Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts.  It is not an objective entity. One who has tried to control the mind will be able to testify how difficult this can be.  Instead, would it not be a lot easier if the seeking entity (called "me") SEES the falseness of itself and disengages from the activities of the mind?  If one can come around to doing Self-Inquiry (vichara), there is no better solution than that. However, this article is for those of us for whom Self-Inquiry is not feasible or easily understood. Perhaps for some, purifying the mind may be the first step towards greater and eventual goals like knowing one's own True Nature.

It is peace of mind which the seeker wants and is that not what most of us want?  How can one get peace of mind?  Common experience tells you that the more you try to control it the more it rebels.  Meditation is certainly a temporary solution. If peace of mind, even temporary, is what you want, then meditation is not a bad answer. But what kind of meditation?

When one keeps oneself engaged in thoughts, the thoughts multiply. One gets lost in more and more thoughts.  The thoughts lead one away from one's own self.  However, if the mind can be turned around and gently focused on the source from where the thoughts arise, then the thoughts gradually lose their energy and subside into their source.  Do not try to stop the thoughts. Just watch where they come from and be the silent witness of the thoughts.  Do not get carried away into the thoughts.  Always bring your attention back to the source of the thoughts. Anchoring the mind to its source brings about peace almost immediately. One falls into the state of thoughtlessness, which is your Natural State.  Repeated practice of this simple meditation of bringing one's attention to the source of the thoughts will take one deeper into further insights of one's own True Nature.

Despicable Me

Most will read this blog and other such material on Advaita and wonder "what does it have which will benefit me?". Well, before you begin to read any further, let it be clear that there is nothing here that will benefit you. In fact, be warned that the more you read and digest what is being said here, the more likely is it that it will result in you losing all that you valued so far. The one thing that most people value is their identity with the body and mind- the "me".  Just try insulting someone and you will get an immediate taste of what is being pointed to! Or how about if someone insults you.

As a result of the belief of being the body, one caters to the body and become a slave of the desires of the body. They become a slave to the demands of the mind.  As is obvious, the mind can be a dominating and ruthless master. The "me" that is being pointed to here is the identity of being an individual. One may call it the ego, if they wish.

This individual identity is the well established feeling of being this body and this mind. Since early childhood, this has been ingrained into one's psyche by family, school and society. So strong is this individual identity that despite being convinced that one is neither the body nor the mind, the identity still persists for almost all but the very rare few.  The three pillars of faith, devotion and surrender to the Guru are absolutely essential, in the opinion of this author, to dispel this idea of being the body and the mind i.e. an individual.  Without the three pillars of faith, devotion and surrender to the Guru, this despicable "me" is not willing to give up the battle.

By constant inquiry into the nature of one's own self (vichara) and with the support of the three pillars, the despicable "me" will eventually subside.  With the subsidence of the "me", one is in one's own Natural State which is beyond any description but always available to all. It is just a matter of seeing the false as false. The "me" is a false entity and should simply be recognized as such.  Otherwise, this despicable "me" will make one dance to its tune. Hopefully the one reading this is that rare one to realize the false as false.