Change The Temper Of The Mind (NICE THOUGHT)

I was thinking today how we are always trying hard to engage our minds in chanting and concentrating on the sound vibration of the holy names, actually we shouldn't think too much about the mind but just chant and hear, because by doing this our mind will be trained to concentrate and won't bother us with so many thoughts about what we should be doing - how, future, present, past and so on. Here is a nice quote from Srila Prabhupada about the mind, hope you like it.

It Is One’s Mind that generates different kinds of bodies for suffering different kinds of material pangs. Therefore as long as the mind is absorbed in fruitive activities, the mind is understood to be absorbed in nescience, and thus one is sure to be subjected to material bondage in different bodies again and again until one develops a transcendental love for Godhead, Vasudeva, the Supreme Person. To become absorbed in the transcendental name, quality, form and activities of the Supreme Person, Vasudeva, means to change the temper of the mind from matter to absolute knowledge, which leads one to the path of absolute realization and thus frees one from the bondage of material contact and encagements in different material bodies.

Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.36 purport

Engaging our minds in the chanting of the holy names facilitates and helps us to focus on the Lord's names and we know that this is the right consciousness for the time of death which can be anytime....we never know. My son said he was going to make my astrological chart in India, so I told him I didn't want to know when I was going to die and he told me, maybe its good because you can prepare yourself so I felt so scared, what will I be thinking of this day - will I be able to chant properly? Am I prepared to die now? Definitely not...I hardly concentrate when I am chanting, but I would like to become a nice chanter, serious and also improve in japa.

This is necessary in my spiritual advancement and also to my devotional service. For me it doesn't matter much when I am going to die, one day my gurudev said in a lecture that for a devotee this doesn't really matter, a devotee's service is eternal - here or everywhere he is....so the main thing is to be able to develop this relationship with the Lord through chanting and obtain a taste for chanting by doing that we can be fearless because we are in Krsna and He is in us.

May we become so absorbed in chanting that we won't do anything else but wish the Lord's company through the sound vibration of the names.

When body is showing signs of disease ,that means the mind is at disease

When body is showing signs of disease ,that means the mind is at disease.You are carrying thoughts which are not in harmony with heart and soul.

It is good that you want to come out of that.The suggested actions are:-

1. Start reading Gita at earliest.Gita will show you the path.Commit strongly to read Gita every day in morning and in night
2. Consult Nutrition expert and follow food suggested food by him.Increase intake of fruits,dry fruits,sprouts, vegetables, nuts.Avoid processed and packaged food,carbonated drinks.Have food on time.
3. Practice forgiveness and gratitude.Say to yourself every night-I am willing to forgive now completely and un-conditionally. Express gratitude for what you have.Practicing forgiveness and gratitude should take care of resentment ,which you might have been carrying for so long causing BP and body ache and pain.
4. We have to take care of our emotions to take care of our body.Our emotions create the body.Unhealthy emotions will not result in healthy body.
5. You need to take care of sleep.Go to bed by 10-10.30 in night.Chant OM till you sleep.If the emotions are not good ,good sleep is not possible.
6. You can do breathing meditations for 10-15 minutes every day.

Briefly, your present state of being is reminder to turn clock back by paying attention to your food,emotions and sleep.

And start reading Gita ,may be from today itself.

Objects in the outside world form impressions on our mind thus affecting us; what should we do in such situations?

Question: Objects in the outside world form impressions on our mind thus affecting us; what should we do in such situations?

Answer:

Do not value, do not give so much importance to the impressions. When we seem to like something, when it appears pleasing or likable to us, then there is desire to acquire it. Even on forming such an impression the inner sentiments must be such that this thing is not mine. Instead of giving importance to the impressions made by the object, value the truth. By considering the impressions as significant, you lose sight of the real fact. From today onwards have a firm resolve that I will no longer accept the impressions, rather I will only accept the truth. Impressions are formed sometimes, not all the time; but when you consider these to be permanent then that is a mistake. In truth, you are not the body. The body that you had in childhood, it is not there anymore, but you are the same. Therefore please have mercy, and kindly do not give any importance to the impressions. One should only be influenced and affected by the Truth. If an impression of the untruth is formed, then it should not be given any importance. The truth is that we are not the body and the body is not ours.

On the path of liberation, on turning towards God, neither the gross, nor the subtle nor the causal body is of any aid. The body is of use to the family, to the society, to the world. It is of no use to us at all. Therefore engage this body, keep it busy in the service of the family, society and the world at large; this is an extremely important and an invaluable point. Accept this point, then you will be ever happy. It is nothing but a plain misconception that with this body we will benefit, that we will gain.

Neither the gross, nor the subtle, nor the causal body will be of any use to us. By understanding this point, one can benefit immensely. The gross body engages in actions (kriya). The subtle body, thinks and reflects (chintan). The causal body fixates on constancy, steadiness (sthirtaa) and samaadhi (deep meditation, a state of trance). Actions, thinking/reflecting , constancy-fixity, deep meditative trance all these are not for you. Do not place reliance on these. Fundamentally what is useful to you is non-entertainment of any thoughts. In the scriptures, `Samaadhi' (deep meditative trance) has been highly glorified, but that too will not be of any use to you. Neither actions, nor thinking/reflecting , nor constancy-fixity nor `samaadhi' will be of use to you. Similarly concentration, Pranayama (breath control), and awakening of Kundalini etc. are all of no use to you. These are all products of Nature (Prakriti), whereas you are a part (ansh) of Paramatman (God). They are not of the same class as you. You are separate from all these. Your oneness is with Paramatma (God). Whether you believe in monism (Advaita) or dualism (Dvaita), whether you follow the Yoga of Knowledge (Jnana) or devotion (Bhakti), minimally at least accept that which has no relationship with this body, is of no use to you (self).

If this world leaves an impression on you, then do not be concerned about it, simply do not accept it, then it will go away. By giving importance to the impressions of the world, you are depriving yourself of great benefits. Therefore if impressions are formed, let them be, but in your mind understand them to be unreal. Unreal objects can only leave unreal (false) impressions, how can they be real? When someone cheats you off your money, his talks appears true to you, you become enchanted by him and then only you get trapped in being cheated. Similarly letting worldly impressions fall you is absolutely letting yourself be cheated. It is stupidity.

One very important point is that the impressions are made on the body-senses- mind-intellect, not on you (self). Objects can affect other objects which are of a similar type; thus impression is never formed on the self, which is of a different class altogether. This body, this world is inert, whereas you the self, is sentient. How can inert affect the sentient? Inert can only impress upon the inert (body). This is the absolute truth. Understand this point right now then at this very minute all work will be complete! It is due to the eyes that impressions of sight are perceived. It is due to the ears that the impressions of sounds are heard. The significant point is that the objects of a similar type affect each other. Hence, whatever impressions occur, do not consider it real. The essence of the self is not affected by anything. It is entirely untouched, untainted - "Asango hyaayam purushah" (Brhad. Up. 4/3/15).

If mind-intellect is affected, let them be affected. Mind-intellect are not ours. These have the same constituents as the objects that make an impression on them.