The concept of mind and body is understood in many different ways in different cultural and religious traditions. The relationship of the mind to the body and the mind body problem is commonly seen as one key issue in philosophy of mind and body. The main aim of philosophers working in this area is to determine the nature of the mind, body and mental states, and how the minds are affected by and can affect the human body. This article is about what a person is, what his or her identity consists of, and nature of mind and body and how mind direct and affect our life.
Do you ever wonder or think about why and how your mind works the way it does. How it comes up with all of its random, scattered and half-organized thoughts? Sometimes you will find yourself in a scenario for a future event, and you will be fully imagining the experience of what it would be like to live in that scenario. Some of these situations can be good and pleasant, while others are nightmarish. We all want satisfaction and successful life. To do so we have to focus our mind and thoughts on our goals. But anger, fear , worry, lust, sex, desire of money, greed and other unwanted thoughts does not allowing the mind to focus on our goals, happiness and satisfaction.
The uncontrolled mind is the source of lust, stress, fear and anger in our lives. According to Bhagavad Gita the tendency of the mind as follows: “For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.”
Many Hindu texts create a distinction between the mind, physical body and soul. The human body can be compared like a chariot and assume that the horse of the chariot are the different organs of our body like the eyes, nose, ears and tongue etc. the charioteer who guide this horse is like our mind. And the master of the chariot is not other than the soul. Man is attracted toward worldly pleasures like lust, sex, money, anger, greed and other unwanted thoughts. And his mind guides him in the direction of these pleasures and thoughts. This is possible till the time the conscience does not take control of the mind. The mind will continue to attract him toward these until he takes control of it. these worldly pleasures and thoughts lures them and the mind approaches to them and the mind ignores the conscience and moves in that direction but if you take control of your mind, then it will guide you in the right direction and help you discover your divine self. One who takes control of one’s mind will attain success and satisfaction
If the mind is your master you are its slave, it will continue to sins you in the worldly pleasures. But when you take control of your mind and be its master then it will help you to attain salvation.
How can we control our mind?
Can we control our mind? Yes. One needs to attack the mind with two weapons in order to conquer it. One weapon is education and the second weapon is meditation. Education means constant learning. Focus your mind on one particular thing, it will try to escape but you must conquer it. It will repeat this act. But you must try to conquer it again. You may have to repeat this several times. Just as a foal is not stable even for a moment. It keeps lolling every moment. The mind too is wavering every moment. The mind too is delicate like a new born foal and controlling one’s mind is as difficult as taming a horse. The more pressure one applies to tame a horse, the more difficult it ones. And it repeatedly, pushes the rider, instead. But if the rider is determined, he finally succeeds in mounting the horse and the horse then begins to obey his master. Similarly the mind too is conquered by holding it’s firmly and finally it begins to obey its master orders. This is called the weapon of learning and practice.
When one can conquer one’s mind in this manner, what is the need for the second weapon of meditation? Because meditation is essential to curb one’s mind forever else it may go astray once again. The worldly pleasure and unwanted thoughts may continue to attract him forever if he moves backward. Obsession, love, passion, and lust will continue to attract him. Hence it is necessary for mind to understand that these are worldly pleasures and are simple illusionary. When the mind understands the facts, it won’t yield to any vices. In fact he develops discipline and it is this discipline that is instrumental in developing self control.
‘’ when the mind gets rid off vices and gets enlightened, it will overcome, its passion for worldly pleasures’’
‘’When you begin to concentrate on your goals, you will develop hate towards all worldly pleasures and thoughts that interfere in your goals’’
‘’When you overcome passion, you will develop self control and thereby get rid of worldly desires’’
‘’when one conquers one mind, consciousness is enlightened’’
It is the man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways – Buddha
Source;
1 Bhagvad gita
2 ramanand sagar’s tv show shri Krishna