Our mind is a part of us. We identify ourselves with our minds so intimately that we see our body and mind as our base identity. We see our thoughts and mind as us and rarely connect ourselves with our soul. We know the truth that body is a temporary home for the soul. We also know that the mind produces thoughts, yet we identity ourselves with our thoughts completely. Training of body and mind are important for good health. In order to have good health, we need to exercise and eat right foods. We need to control and command our body to exercise, bend and stretch. We need to guide and control our tongue to the right foods. In order to have vibrant mental health, we need to have control over our mind and thoughts.
Our mind is the eternal monkey leaping from here to there in an instant. Our mind dwells in the past and in future. It talks eternally of possibilities and ifs and buts. It rarely dwells in the present now. It does not discuss things that are currently happening. It is full of desires. It has endless lists of wants and demands. It rages, lusts for, plots for vengeance, has attachments, goes into depression when its wants are not fulfilled. It is pulled in all directions by the five senses and leaps and darts around to fulfill its desires. The mind is goaded by the ego into senseless talk of self importance, self delusions, self grandeur and judgement. Every single thing around in the outside world attracts the mind and the mind measures everything with judgment of like, dislike and wanting and not wanting. It is not at peace and does not let us live in peace.
We often feel that the mind is a part of us and therefore should obey our commands . When we order it to be at peace it should be and when we ask of it to meditate, it should. But this rarely happens. The mind runs around as it is pulled by the five senses all the time. It is a logical and understandable question when we seek to know: Why do I need to meditate? It is ‘my mind’. Then it should listen to me and meditate by itself. Why does it keep scattering around all the time like sands on a beach?
Ramana Maharishi was once asked this question and he gave the answer in his inimitable style. At the time when the query was raised, a squirrel had given birth to several babies. The mother squirrel was caught and eaten by a cat and Ramana Maharishi’s great love and compassion took over and the newly born babies found a divine mother to take care of them. A cage was placed in the meditation hall and the baby squirrels were placed inside it safely and taken care of. A few days later, the baby squirrels escaped from the cage and at the same time the cat came into the meditation hall. Ramana Maharishi got up quickly and caught all the baby squirrels one by one and placed them safely inside the cage and locked the door firmly.
Ramana Maharishi then explained to the devotee who asked the question about mind: These baby squirrels are not mature enough to know the dangers of the world. They are not aware of the danger from the cat and that they can be eaten in a trice. When they are older and mature, they can sense danger, run and ride. Till such time, we have to keep putting the baby squirrels inside the cage and protecting them. It is the same with our mind. Our mind does not know that when it goes to the outside world, it keeps suffering. So it keeps running out of ignorance. When it is mature and then it goes out for a walk, it will be safe. Until then, we must pull our mind inside within us. We must make effort and meditate. Once we are strong in our meditation, it is safe to let the mind outside. It can sense dangers, run and hide and protect itself.
The external world is full of pitfalls and dangers. Our mind can easily get entrapped anywhere and everywhere. Our mind is not capable of meditating by itself. We have to train our mind by mantra japa, meditation and following the teaching of the Guru. Only by taking the mind within and guarding it, we can keep it safe till it is mature and strong to move in the world without getting hurt or destroyed. Let us not waste a moment and be steady and regular in our practice of SitaRam mantra, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru.
