Tranquillity of Mind

Tranquillity of Mind
There is an old saying, “Watch your thoughts; for they become words. Watch your words; for they become actions. Watch your actions; for they become habits. Watch your habits; for they become character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny. ” 
 
As per modern science, the thoughts are mostly negative and triggered by external stimuli. Thought precedes desire. In Sanskrit, thought is called vritti. All sense experiences are thought modifications. When a thought modifies, it does not lose its nature. It just takes different forms, but does not transform. Thought is also called ‘mind-stuff.’
 
In Hinduism, all the mental abilities viz. intellect, decision making, receptacle of senses, thought-process, memories, etc. are grouped into four internal organs (Antahkarana) viz. Manas (the receptacle of senses & place of thoughts), Buddhi (Intellect & decision making), Ego (the self-consciousness or Ahamkara or pride or asmita) and Chitta (stored memories or impressions). Once one understands one’s mind, he understands his life. Beyond these four internal organs is “eternal Self”. Awareness, alertness and adoration of Self are required to discover it. Light is Self, pure ‘I’ and shadow is the Conditioned Consciousness, impure ‘I’. The shadow has no existence without this light. 
 
Mind & Miseries:
The mind is restlessly chasing vasana objects to enjoy the hidden nectar of pleasures. We see men and women tirelessly spending time and energy to satisfy the insatiable mind. The people get older and diseased, yet the search for pleasures never ends. Experience of sensual pleasures creates impressions (vasanas or tendencies), impressions create memory of pleasures, memory of pleasures creates attachments to it, and attachments inspire to do good or bad karmas/actions which accumulate karmas leading to re-births. Mind demands repetition of past experiences. Since pleasant memories are preferred to pain memories, we run after former. But when the person feels deficiencies in the comforts, seven disorders develop - Kama (Lust or desire), Krodh (Rage, anger or hatred), Lobh (Greed), Moh (delusory emotional attachment), Ahankar (Ego or pride), Mada (passion) and Matsarya (envy, jealousy).
 
Shri Krishna explained Arjuna in chapter 2 of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita that the man dwelling on sense-objects develops attachment for them; from attachment springs up desire, and desire (unfulfilled) causes anger (2.62). From anger arises delusion; from delusion, confusion of memory; from confusion of memory, loss of reason; and from loss of reason one goes to complete ruin (2.63). The flowing stream of thoughts in the mind which follows in the wake of the wandering senses carries away his awareness as the wind (carries away) a boat on the waters (2.67).
 
Stream of Thoughts:
Manas is the factory of thoughts. Experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. During waking state, the manas is predominantly rajasic, and it repeatedly participates in the multiplication of thoughts. But in sleep state, due to natural, self-canceling process and overwhelming tamas, the multiplication of thoughts comes to end. The process self-canceling process culminates in deep sleep. When there is no thought, one enjoys Ananda or bliss.
 
Thought Management:
Regrets of the past, anxieties of the future and excitements of the present are the channels of mental energy. Doing the given duty with complete focus without distractions of thoughts of past experiences and likely gains or failures, is thought management. One can choose to watch the thoughts, or walk along with them, or plunge in and swim. When we plunge in and swim, we are at the mercy of the current. When we walk along with our thoughts with great awareness, the manas stays alert and efficient. But when we choose to watch our thoughts, we stay free. A five steps meditation process reorganizes the mind and makes it free:     

1. Meditate not on the Non-Self;
2. Sense experiences are only thoughts;
3. Subject is same in all thoughts;
4. The Self supports both subject and object;
5. Shift the attention and abide in the Self.

 
Tranquility of Mind:
Tranquility or Serenity of mind is a milestone in the path of spirituality. Serenity of mind is basically “thought management”. We need to shift our attention from senses to thoughts supporting them and from the thoughts to the awareness supporting every thought. Awareness is known as Prajnana. It supports both Jnana (extensive knowledge) and Vijnana (intensive knowledge).
 

1. Shri Krishna explained Arjuna in chapter 2 of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita about the attributes of stable person and disciplines to attain tranquillity.   
2. When one thoroughly casts off all cravings of the mind, and is satisfied in the Self through the joy of the Self, he is then called stable (evenness) of mind (2.55).
3. Whose mind is not shaken by adversity, and not after pleasures, and who is free from attachment, passion, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom (2.56).
4. When, like a tortoise that draws in its limbs from all directions he withdraws all his senses from the sense-objects, his mind becomes steady (2.58).
5. The self-controlled person, while enjoying the various sense-objects through his senses, which are disciplined and free from likes and dislikes, attains placidity of mind (2.64).
6. With the attainment of such placidity of mind, all his sorrows come to an end; and the intellect of such a person of tranquil mind soon withdrawing itself from all sides, becomes firmly established in God (2.65).

2.    Patanjali’s yoga darshan of 4th century BC, one of the six darshans, postulated eight limbs of self-discipline & thought management - Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyhara, Dharna, Dhyana & Samadhi (यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावअङ्गानि 2/29). Yoga is the technique to control the mind from distractions and first five limbs turn thoughts away from sense objects. Dharna, Dhyana & Samadhi are the internal limbs to develop one-pointed attention.

1. During Dharna, the stream of thoughts is directed towards the object chosen.
2. During Dhayna, single thought is focused but meditator, meditation and object is present.
3. Samadhi has five progressive stages - Savitarka (mind alternates between knowledge of words & sense perception), Nirvitarka (mind loses both knowledge), Savichar (wisdom is attained), Nirvichar (dawn of spiritual light) and Asamprajaatah (all afflictions & impressions retire).

 

1. According to Sri Ramana Maharishi, when we practice to keep the mind pleasant at all times, we spontaneously discover serenity and the peace of the self.  
2. Regular and sincere sadhana uplift one from all the natural and powerful temptations. Refuse to compromise. Live in Him, draw strength from Him! Make use of every moment of the life. Talk nothing but His glories; study and reflect when alone. Fill oneself up with the joy state of the Higher self!