Take a break, have a silent moment...

"What do you do for recreation?"

"What do you do to relax or unwind yourself?"

If we know how to avoid underusing or overusing the body and the mind, there's no such need to relax or unwind the body and the mind.

The well-trained mind unattached to the qualities of names and forms, it will not be disturbed nor affected by the objects of names and forms that it perceives from moment to moment, it won't be in a state of stressed nor being restless, it doesn't need to be relaxed or to be unwind. If the mind is being in the present moment now, free from craving and aversion, free from duality and separateness, there's no boredom or loneliness. It doesn't need to be doing something "special" or "additional" for recreation, stimulation or entertainment to get rid of boredom and loneliness, or to feel good and meaningful. The mind is at ease and content as it is. The mind doesn't run outward to chase after objects of names and forms.

There are so many things going on in the untrained mind, constantly receiving inputs and sending outputs through the senses, sense organs and the organs of action (mouth, feet, hands, organ of excretion and organ of procreation), as well as it keeps wandering to the past memories and future anticipations.

We might think we are like this, "I don't talk much. I am a quiet person. I like quietness..." But, in truth, our mind is so noisy. We can't stop talking most of the time, whether verbally or mentally. The mind is so busy, so wild, so passionate, so restless, so stimulated, so ambitious, so many plans, so much desires, so many things wants to say, so many things wants to do, so many things wants to achieve, and so on.

If we truly want to conquer our own mind to realize unconditional peace, especially if our mind is the type that easily be disturbed, and gets irritated and annoyed by what the ego doesn't like to see or hear, or easily be offended by what the ego doesn't agree with, then it will be conducive for us to reduce talking, or minimize engaging in social conversation, as our mind will be influenced and disturbed by the action of talking, and be disturbed, agitated or depressed by the content of the conversation due to the undisciplined egoistic mind reacts towards what it likes and dislikes, agrees and disagrees with. The mind is in the state of restlessness all the time, being busy thinking, analyzing, judging, comparing, remembering, longing, anticipating, speculating, projecting, expecting, and so on.

The ego wants to assert itself and be acknowledged, "I have some opinions and points of view. I have something to say. I agree with this, and I don't agree with that. I think it should be like this. Listen to me. Why won't you listen to me? Why won't you agree with me? Why won't you believe me? Why do you want to argue with me?" And so on.

If we truly want to practice yoga and meditation, then be persevered and determined to quiet the mind. Allow the mind to have a break from restlessness. Talk less. Reduce the mind activities. Concentrate the mind on fewer objects for start, and then render it to be one-pointedness concentrating at one single object in time. Silent the mind. And peace will surface.

Om shanti.

Freedom of thinking, action and speech?

We want to be able to have freedom of thinking, action and speech. That's what most people fight for from ancient until now. When we want to be able to express ourselves through thinking, action and speech freely, do we also allow other people to express themselves through thinking, action and speech freely, even though we might not like and might not agree with their thinking, action and speech? Do we easily or automatically be disturbed, offended, angry and unhappy when we hear or see something that we cannot agree with or we think it's insulting or disrespecting? Do we want to be free from disturbs, anger, disappointment, dissatisfaction, restlessness and unhappiness? Do we really want to have peace? Or, do we actually enjoy all the disturbs, anger, disappointment, dissatisfaction, restlessness and unhappiness, and don't really like peace (as it seems to be quite boring without excitement and stimulation.)

There's nothing wrong with expressing our thinking and points of view about our agreements and disagreements, about what we believe as right and wrong, and to discuss or debate about certain subject freely. That's the natural habit of the mind. That's what a mind does to 'feel' being existing, to be acknowledged by itself and the world of its existence.

 

It's not just about we want to have freedom of thinking, action, expression and speech, but we must also understand that all actions will bring desirable/undesirable or expected/unexpected consequences of action. There will be agreeable/disagreeable and pleasant/unpleasant reactions coming from other people of different backgrounds reacting towards our thinking, action, expression and speech.

When we only allow ourselves to have freedom of thinking, action and speech, to believe in whatever we want to believe, to do whatever we want to do, and to express or say whatever we want to express or say, even if it appears to be insulting/disrespecting/offensive towards certain things for certain people of different background, but at the same time, we don't allow other people to have freedom of thinking, action, expression and speech, or to react in certain way towards our thinking, action, expression and speech, and we want to 'correct' their thinking, action/reaction and speech to be the way that we think it should be, the way that we like and agree with, and that is what the world is happening now - it starts with disagreements, then arguments, clashes, unrest, hatred, violence, wars, killing, torturing, and etc.

If someone needs to 'change' or 'be corrected', it has to come from oneself being aware of there's something in oneself that needs to be 'changed' or 'corrected', and willingly to 'change' or 'correct' what needs to be 'changed' or 'corrected' by oneself, and it's not coming from other beings trying to 'change' or 'correct' another being.

When we practice yoga and meditation, we are changing the habits of this mind (our own mind, not other people's mind). We are silencing the mind. When the mind is silent, turning inward resting in the chamber of the heart, wave-less/action-less, what is freedom of thinking, action, expression and speech?

Taming and quieting the busy outgoing self-righteous expressive mind is our yoga and meditation practice. The rest are just 'toys' to bring the attention of the mind into this present moment.

That's why the observance of silence is the most important practice in meditation retreat. It doesn't matter whether we are intellectual or not, it doesn't matter we are whom we think we are, it doesn't matter how healthy, strong and flexible is our physical body and what it can do or cannot do, it doesn't matter we have been to a yoga school or not, or have studied and learned under which Guru or which school, it doesn't matter how long we have been studying and practicing yoga and meditation, it doesn't matter how much we know or don't know about this and that, it doesn't matter what we believe what things are and how things should be, we all do one same practice. We silent/withdraw the thought-waves (the mind), the organ of action (the body) and the organ of speech (the expression).

When we see, or hear, or smell, or taste, or touch, or think about something that we like or dislike, agree or disagree with, we observe, be aware. Just observe and be aware, without identification, without attachment, without reacting, without judging, without anticipating, without craving, without aversion, without clinging, without rejecting. This practice might take some time to be effortless. But then our mind will taste freedom and peace. Real freedom and unconditional peace. Freedom from ignorance, egoism, attachment, desire and impurities (in short, suffering).

Freedom of thinking, action and speech is there when we have the clarity and understanding to decide or choose what we want to think, act/react, express and say, or not. Being able to decide/choose what to think, act/react, express and say, and what not to think, act/react, express and say, is the real freedom of thinking, action, expression and speech. It's not about being able to think, act/react, express and say anything and everything freely, even if it will cause painful sorrow/suffering to ourselves and/or other beings.

 

Just like we can choose to keep our hands away from contacting with fire directly because we don't want to suffer injury or pain from being burnt by fire. It doesn't mean that we are lack of freedom of action when we choose not to perform certain action that will cause injury or pain to oneself and/or others, thinking that freedom of action means, "I want to be able to do whatever I want to do, such as be able to put my hands into the fire for as long as I want and I expect myself not getting injury or pain from being burnt." That's ignorance, not freedom at all.

Om shanti.

Control other people's mind?

Quite often this search word "how to control other people's mind" came to this blog.

If we really want to control other people's mind, well, we need to know how to control our own mind first.
And when we are able to control our own mind, then naturally we won't have this desire of want to control other people's mind.

Om shanti.

Transcend egoism, identification, intention, attachment, actions and inactions...

The ultimate liberation is free from suffering that accompany the phenomenal of birth and death, forming and deforming, or names and forms that are subject to impermanence, perceived by the egoistic mind through the function of the physical body, sense organs, and the senses.

Suffering (Of birth, impermanent changes, hunger, thirst, dissatisfaction, separation from the things and beings that we like, come in contact with the things and beings that we don't like, pain, injury, old age, sickness, death) is the natural process of the existence of life, or the function of the body and egoistic mind. When the mind is liberated, free from ignorance and egoism, all these physical impermanent experiences are no longer being perceived as "suffering". There are just being what they are. All these phenomena is neither suffering nor not suffering.

It is when the egoistic mind generates aversion towards names and forms that the mind perceives as "suffering" that actually is what generating suffering. When the mind is free from ignorance and egoism, and realize the truth of names and forms, seeing everything as they are, then the mind will no longer generates aversion towards names and forms that the mind used to perceived as "suffering", and this itself is liberation.

And then there are other mental suffering of impurities that derived from ignorance and egoism, that generates identification and attachment towards qualities of names and forms, such like irritation, frustration, anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, fear, worry, disappointment, doubts, restlessness, possessiveness, pride, arrogance, aggressiveness, animosity, offensiveness, defensiveness, depression, feelings of hurt, and etc. When the mind is liberated, free from ignorance and egoism, all these mental defilement will be disappearing from the mind.

When the mind is still influenced by ignorance and egoism, the circle of birth and death with the existence and function of the body and mind that is subject to impermanence is being perceived as "suffering". When the mind is free from ignorance and egoism, the circle of birth and death or the existence and function of the body and mind is just being what it is. It is neither suffering nor not suffering.

If the mind is not free from ignorance and egoism, the egoistic mind will feel that there is suffering, and it wants to be free from suffering. Then there is the path to transcend suffering.

Life existence of the body and the mind is the product of the elements of fire, wind, water, earth and space, and life experience is fueled or powered by Karma.

Karma derived from actions that are being performed under the influence of egoism with identification, attachment, intention and expectation.

We cannot avoid actions in this life existence for the body and mind to be functioning and surviving, or to maintain the basic needs of this physical body, not to say there are many other things in life that are beyond the basic needs for survival that motivate us to be performing actions, such like, desires of wants and don't wants. One of the characteristics of the egoistic mind is restlessness. It can't sit still in silence, or inaction. It wants to create and express, act and react. It wants to perform actions, or else it gets bored.

Even when we intentionally don't want to perform any actions, don't want to do or say anything, that itself is also an action of "do not want to perform any actions."

Actions bring along the consequences of actions, or in another term, all actions bear the fruit of actions.

Actions and the fruit of actions, or Karma (Which produces the seeds of life) is the fuel that keeps the circle of birth and death going.

If we know how to transcend all actions and the fruit of actions, know what is inaction in actions, we will be free from being bound by actions and the fruit of actions, or Karma, and this will stop fueling the circle of birth and death. The circle of birth and death will come to an end when the existing fuel (Karma) is exhausted.

When there are good or bad actions being generated, it will generate some pleasant or/and unpleasant consequences. And due to the reactions of the egoistic mind towards the pleasant or unpleasant consequences, there will be more actions being generated. And thus good and bad karma are continuously being generated, and the wheel of birth and death keeps rolling.

Whether we will be bound by our actions and the fruit of actions or not, it depends on whether the actions are free from egoism, identification, intention and attachment, or not.

Actions that are free from the influence of egoism, identification, attachment, intention and expectation, are not different from inaction, where there is no Karma (seeds of life) being generated.

When the mind realizes selflessness, there is no "I" perform actions, there is no "fruit of action" to be reaped by "I". All actions are being performed out of compassion without egoism, identification nor attachment.

Just like the elements of fire, wind, water, earth and space. They are performing "actions" ceaselessly, giving, providing and supporting everything in the world to be existing, but these "actions" are not bound by (good or bad) Karma. These actions are not different from inaction, as there's no Karma being generated although there are "actions" being performed. There are pleasant and unpleasant consequences being produced. But the elements are untouched or undetermined by the actions and the consequences of actions.

Everything is enjoying and benefiting from the contribution of the elements to be existing, as well as experiencing decay, destruction, deformation, also resulting from the same elements. But all these actions that brought some constructive and destructive consequences derived from all these elements are free from egoism, identification, intention or attachment.

The sun won't get good karma because everyone is benefiting from the sunlight to be existing, nor will the sun get bad karma because some people suffer skin burnt or skin cancer from excessive sunlight exposure. Nor does the water receives good karma from being one of the essential elements for life existence, nor does the water receives bad karma, when some people lost their lives or belongings through the element of water. All these elements exist for everything else to be existing, without egoism, intention, attachment, identification, discrimination, judgment, comparison, expectation, craving or aversion.

There's no such identification of "I am the doer of actions." nor  "I am giving something." nor "Someone is receiving something from I or being benefited by my actions." nor "I am the enjoyer of the fruit of actions."

And hence in the traditional yoga practice, there is this basic yet most essential teaching about "Eliminate the egoism, be free from identification, attachment, intention, expectation, and renounce the fruit of actions." is the way to ultimate liberation.

And this practice of "Eliminate the egoism, be free from identification, attachment, intention, expectation, and renounce the fruit of actions." has nothing to do with the impermanent and limited physical functions, conditions and abilities to be performing the yoga asana exercises (or not performing any yoga asana exercises at all), nor has anything to do with the impermanent states of the mind, the functions of the mind to perceive, to act and react, the thoughts activities, the intellectual thinking, the behavior patterns, the knowledge, the information, the beliefs, or the impurities that arise and passing away unceasingly in the mind. Above all, all these activities in the mind do not contaminate the true nature of the mind. The mind is just being what it is, it is neither good nor bad, neither pure nor impure.

It is being aware of the actions and reactions of the ego towards all the names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses, observe and witness all the egoistic activities in the mind without attachment, without association, without identification.

Upon the annihilation of egoism, the mind is free, or liberated. Free from being conditioned by egoism and ignorance, as well as impurities that arise due to egoism and ignorance. As egoism and ignorance is the cause of suffering. It is the ego who acts and reacts, and generates Karma. Due to ignorance, there is wrong identification with the ego as an individual being who is the doer of actions and the enjoyer of the fruit of actions.

When the body is in "good" condition and perform some "good" actions, and the mind is at peace, free from the influence of impurities, it won't make the true nature of the mind become "good", "pure" and "peaceful". When the body is in a "bad" condition and perform some "bad" actions, and the mind is not at peace, being influenced by impurities, it won't make the true nature of the mind become "bad", "impure" and "not peaceful". The true nature of the mind is unaffected, undisturbed, uncontaminated, uninfluenced, or undetermined by all these impermanent qualities of names and forms that is experiencing by the mind through the function of the body, the sense organs and the senses.

The body and the egoistic mind is influenced and determined by the pleasant and unpleasant consequences of the actions of good and bad, but the true nature of the mind is not determined nor contaminated by the good and bad actions as well as the consequences of actions.

When we (the mind) realize our true nature, and stop identifying with the body and the egoism which is not who we really are, we are as free as we are.

When we say, "I am more or less peaceful..." or "I feel or don't feel peace..." by doing or not doing something, or by eating or not eating something, or by experience or not experience something, that is just the impermanent conditional peaceful/peaceless state of the mind that is influenced by the qualities of names and forms. This is not the unconditional peace of the true nature of the mind upon the realization of the truth of who "we" really are, being free from ignorance, egoism, attachment and impurities.

As real peace or unconditional peace is never increase nor decrease. It is beyond the impermanent and limited existence, conditions and functions of the body and the egoistic mind, beyond the thinking and beliefs, beyond the qualities of names and forms, beyond impermanence...

The mind is purifying itself to go beyond the identification with the existence, functions, conditions and abilities of the body and the egoism, go beyond the thinking and beliefs in the mind, go beyond intention and expectation, go beyond attachment towards actions and the fruit of actions. And be free.

We take full responsibility for the consequences of actions, whether pleasant or unpleasant. Without expecting the result either to be the way that we think it should be, or expecting the result not to be something that we think it shouldn't be.

Allow the result, or the fruit of actions to be what it is.

It is the attachment towards the qualities of names and forms, where the egoistic mind generates craving and clinging onto what the mind perceives as "good', "positive", "happiness", and generates aversion towards what the mind perceives as "bad", "negative", "unhappiness" that makes the mind experience restlessness, unpeacefulness, or suffering.

When the mind is free from attachment, there's no craving and aversion, there's no restlessness, unpeacefulness, or suffering.

This is liberation within this present moment through this life existence.

Every single moment there are countless circles of birth and death happening in the body and the mind. All the cells are regenerating and dropping off the body. All the thought waves, thinking and feelings, arising and passing away. At one moment, the body is in certain condition, in another moment it changes to a different condition. At one moment the mind is peaceful and kind, in another moment the mind is disturbed and evil. Which part of the body is "I"? And which state of the mind is "I"? One moment we are in the realm of heaven, and another moment we are in the realm of hell. Countless circles of birth and earth in this present moment. And the stillness beyond the body and the mind, untouched by these circles of birth and death that is conditioned by Karma, is liberation.

If this is not the liberation that you are looking for, then continue in your pursue for what you think is liberation. It's your freedom.

Om shanti.

Yoga asana practice and some other wholesome activities to bring positive supports in mind control...

Especially when the mind cannot sit still quietly to turn inward yet, it keeps running outward and has to be doing something, or else it gets agitated or bored, then we need to engage the mind with some wholesome activities that will bring positive development and improvement in mind control, so that it doesn't has the 'room' to be engaged in some unwholesome activities that will bring distraction or obstruction in mind control.

It is the same as self-control or self-restraint - performing wholesome activities that will promote peace and harmony in oneself and in others. While refraining from performing unwholesome activities that will promote unrest and disharmony in oneself and in others.

Yoga asana practice, Pranayama, meditation, Japa, chanting, praying, house cleaning, gardening, laundry washing, studying the Vedanta or Bhagavad Gita, performing karma yoga or selfless service, performing all our duties and responsibilities, are some activities that we can keep the mind busy, so that it doesn't has the spare time and space to be engaging in any unwholesome activities like gossips, slander, criticism, ill thinking, speculations, fearful imaginations, worries, building castle in the air, and etc.

If we engage the body and mind with a short yoga asana practice, even if it's only for 5 minutes, there will be less a being in the world to be committing or generating negative or evil thinking, speech or actions into the world within that 5 minutes.

Imagine if 10% of the world population are engaging in yoga asana practice (with correct attitude) at the same time for 5 minutes, the whole world will have 10% less negative vibrations within that 5 minutes, not to say that usually in the traditional yoga asana practice, it will take about 2 to 3 hours for each practice, although duration is not the point at all... It doesn't mean that the longer we practice yoga asana, we will be guaranteed to be free form ignorance, egoism and suffering.

Same as all the other wholesome activities that we can do to keep the mind busy with wholesome activities that will bring peace and harmony in oneself and in others. People who cannot perform yoga asana practice, or are not interested in yoga asana practice can keep the mind busy with some other forms of wholesome activities in life. It is not necessarily has to be yoga asana practice, to bring positive development or improvement in mind control.

It's about what is most practical and convenient for us in that present moment. It can also change from time to time. Some days we are more enthusiastic to perform yoga asana practice, but some other days we might not have the same enthusiasm to perform yoga asana practice, but we can sit quietly observing the breath, mental thought waves or physical sensations. Or we can do some Pranayama, Japa, chanting and praying. Or engage in any activities that allow the body and mind to be purified as much as we can.

For those who are serious or sincere in the path of self-inquiry, we perform all the above activities as much as we can everyday to engage the mind only with activities that will encourage and support mind control, or elimination of the ego, or self-realization, or transcending ignorance or suffering, or realization of unconditional love and peace.

By having self-control or self-restraint, and not generating negative vibrations into the world through thinking, action and speech, is already benefiting the world. It is not necessarily that we have to be completely free from ignorance or suffering to be able to benefit the world. Beside not generating negative vibrations in ourselves and into the world, we can make good use of our talents, abilities, body, hands, feet, mouth, ears, eyes, nose, tongue, speech organ, mind, creativity, or merely loving kindness, to share what we have and what we can do, to bring some positive and cheerful vibrations into the world.

Om shanti.

Swami Sivananda's lessons for mental peace - Conquest of mind

Don't's

1. Don't expect; don't hope

2. Don't keep in the heart any injury done by others.

3. Don't mix with rich people.

4. Don't compare.

5. Don't build castles in the air.

6. Don't brood over the past.

7. Don't plan your future.

8. Don't get angry on any account.

9. Don't expect any return for your services or help.

10. Don't multiply your acquaintances.

11. Don't be familiar with anybody.

12. Don't keep any bad company.

13. Don't squander your wealth.

14. Don't think too much of yourself.

15. Don't make mountains out of little moles.

16. Don't be extravagant.

17. Don't make much of trifling things.

18. Don't forget God.

*********************

Do's

1. Take recourse to solitude.

2. Live alone.

3. Keep 4 clothes. 1 blanket, 1 Lotta.

4. Eat 2 or 3 things only - Dhall, Rottie, or Dhall, rice and vegetables.

5. Observe Mauna (silence).

6. Practice Asanas and Pranayama.

7. Do Japa and meditation.

8. Study the Yoga Vasishtha, the Gita, the Upanishads, the Avadhoota Gita and the Viveka Chudamani.

9. Have Satsanga.

10. Possess Santosh or Sattvic contentment.

11. Destroy desires - Nishkama state.

12. Destroy anger - Akrodha state.

13. Destroy hatred - Nirvaira state.

14. Have equal vision - Samata state.

15. Practice constant Vichara - Self-inquiry.

16. Develop strong patience.

17. Have Kshama (forgiveness), Titiksha (endurance), tolerance, Daya (mercy), Karuna (compassion), Udarata (magnanimity ; generosity), benevolence, universal love.

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Essence of Vedanta

You do not know anything about self-analysis, mind control, self-restraint, concentration and introspection. You have lived in vain! You have wasted this precious life! Hotels, restaurants, cinema houses, are your abode of Immortality. Really you are leading a miserable life. If you can talk something on dry politics, you think you are a hero!

Essence of Vedanta, Swami Sivananda

Control Of The Mind?

Yoga is about control of the mind.

But how does this work?

Many people say that it is so difficult to control the mind and they gave up the path of mind control.

To control the mind is not easy, for sure.

The perceptive and assertive egoistic thinking mind is what we think we are.

 

When we say taking control over the situation, it means that we are not being influenced or controlled by the situation.

 

Control of the mind is about the mind is not being influenced of controlled by the restless impure selfless modification of the mind, as well as rendering the state of the mind calm and pure through the effort of the mind itself under the persistent practice of self-control, discipline and purification process, to allow the mind to reflect upon itself to see the truth of itself, to know Thyself, without hindering by the veil of ignorance, restlessness and impurities.

 
The mind is the one who needs to develop self-awareness to be aware of what is happening in the mind and not being influenced by it. If the mind doesn't have this self-awareness, it doesn’t know what is happening in the mind, but constantly getting involve with the modification of the mind, identifying itself with the modification of the mind, attaching and associating with the impermanent states and activities of the mind, and constantly reacting towards whatever the mind perceives through the senses. 

 

The ignorant mind is being controlled or determined by the modification of the mind, and being affected or influenced by it all the time, being disturbed and have no peace. And so, we, or the mind, wants to be free from the restless modification of the mind which is full of impurities, such like anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, lustful desire, dissatisfaction, disappointment, irritation, frustration, doubt, craving, aversion, fear and worry.

Mind control is about the mind becomes the master of itself and not being over-powered by the impure egoistic modification of the mind. The mind that has developed self-awareness is in control of its action and speech, and not the modification of the mind controlling and influencing its action and speech. If there's no presence of attachment, identification and association from the mind towards the modification of the mind and let the modification of the mind being what it is, being impermanent, and the mind is being undisturbed, or unaffected, or uninfluenced by the forever changing phenomena (thought waves) that are constantly happening in the mind, then the mind will be peaceful as it is being free from being determined by the different condition of the mind or the impermanent state of the mind.

If the state of the mind is agitated, it is just the state of the mind being agitated, not us. And it's impermanent.

 

If the state of the mind is calm and peaceful, it is also just the state of the mind being calm and peaceful, not us. And it's impermanent.

 

The perceptive assertive thinking mind goes beyond the state of the mind. The mind becomes the witness that is witnessing what is happening in the mind, observing whatever the mind and the body are experiencing in the present moment now. We, or the mind doesn’t have to react towards all the feelings and emotions, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, wants and don’t wants in the mind. And they are impermanent and not who we are.

The state of the mind is constantly changing from positive to negative, from good to bad, and vice versa. It is full of impurities like anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, lustful desire, irritation, frustration, disappointment, dissatisfaction, fear, worry, imagination, craving and aversion. If we, or the mind, has attachment and identification towards the modification of the mind, and is being controlled and influenced by the impure modification of the mind, then the mind will be frustrated all the time if the mind has craving and aversion where it only wants to have good and happy experiences, and reject unpleasant and unhappy experiences.

The perception of the entire worldly life existence happens in the mind only. All the differentiation of good and bad, positive and negative, right and wrong, pleasantness and unpleasantness, they only exist in our mind. Without the mind, there is nothing to be perceived. Calming and taming the modification of the mind, the “world” will be calmed and tamed. The ceaseless perception of names and forms or thought waves are still there but they have no power to disturb or influence the mind anymore.

By doing the yoga asana, the breathing exercise, the concentration exercise and meditation, it can help the mind to have certain influence towards the state of the mind, such as calming and stilling the state of the mind, slowing down the thought waves, but not necessary to control the state of the mind to be what we want it to be. It's impossible, because the modification of the mind doesn’t belong to the mind. All the good and bad thoughts, positive and negative thoughts, pleasant and unpleasant feelings and emotions, arising and passing away unceasingly, it is not in the control of the mind at all. All the thoughts come and go as they like, whenever they like. It is not up to the mind that it only wants to have good, positive and happy thoughts and feelings, and doesn’t want to have bad, negative and unhappy thoughts and feelings. If the mind thinks it can control the state of the mind like this, it is getting itself into huge disappointment and frustration.

It is like the pleasant and unpleasant sensations that arise and passing away throughout the body from moment to moment. These sensations do not belong to the mind and it is not in the mind control that it only wants to have pleasant sensations and retaining the pleasant sensations forever not changing. And it is not in the mind control that it doesn’t want to have unpleasant sensations and want to get rid of the unpleasant sensations.

All the sensations, feelings, emotions, or thoughts come and go as there are, without asking the permission of the mind to come and go.

The effects of the Asana practice, the pranayama practice, the concentration and meditation are there to influence the energy field, to calm down and to balance the energy, and at the same time this will influence the state of the mind as well. This is because the state of the mind is influenced by the energy field, or the mind is moved by the Prana. That’s why by doing yoga and pranayama practices can help us, or the mind, to have certain influence or control over the state of the mind. But even the state of calmness in the mind is also impermanent. We, the mind, cannot attach to the calmness that comes from the state of the mind due to the influence of the energy field. All calm and disturbed states of mind will change and disappear.

By meditating, the mind is practicing non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment and non-expectation towards the modification of the mind. Standing as a witness observing all states of the mind. Let the state of the mind being what it is.

 

If the state of the mind is being overly restless, agitated, depressed and over-whelming, then the mind can perform certain practice that can influence the state of the mind momentarily without trying to control the state of the mind to be in certain way. Without expectation that the state of the mind has to be in certain way.

 

Similarly, the perception of the different conditions of the world is also impermanent. Let the conditions of the world being what it is. If the condition of the world is overly bad and unlivable, then the mind can perform certain action that might can influence the condition of the world momentarily without trying to control the world to be in certain way. Without expectation that the world has to be in certain way.

It's about going beyond the impermanent selfless state of the mind by transcending all states of the mind (the dullness, the agitation, the calmness). Then true and lasting unconditional peace is there instantly. It is always there, but it is beyond the function or modification of the mind. Once all kinds of attachment and identification disappear, where there's no association with the state of the mind, then the mind will be resting in this unconditional peace that is not affected by impermanence, or energy field, or conditions, or qualities. It is beyond happiness and unhappiness. It is beyond good and bad, positive and negative, pleasantness or unpleasantness, meaningfulness or meaninglessness. It is beyond births and deaths, names and forms.

Along with this peace, is unlimited and unconditional love, compassion and wisdom.

The mind is not a bad thing at all. We should not judge the mind as something bad. The mind is just being what it is. It is not something good or bad. It might give troubles to itself and others if it allows itself to be controlled or influenced by the modification of the mind. But it won’t give itself or others any problems if there's no egoistic attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment and expectation, and not being disturbed or affected or influenced by the impermanent and selfless modification of the mind.

We, the mind, is being conditioned by what is going on in the mind, not the things or happenings out there that are conditioning us, the mind, to be happy or unhappy.

Yoga is about freeing the mind, of what we think we are, from the impermanent selfless condition of the mind and the body. Be free from being determined by the impermanent selfless condition of life existence and the world.

We don’t have to control, or to change, or to interfere with the state of the mind, the body, the life existence and the world. Just observing the state of the mind, the body, the life existence and the world as it is, accepting the present moment as it is, no craving, no aversion, everything is just being what it is. 

 

At the same time, we can perform all our duty or perform any actions that bring beneficial improvement to the mind, the body, the life existence and the world, without attachment and identification, without craving and aversion, without intention, judgment and expectation.

 

Just like the sun, the water, the air, the earth and the space. They just give and provide, and are selflessly and ceaselessly performing respective action that is supporting all kinds of existence in the universe without any discrimination of good or bad beings, living beings or non-living beings, ancient or modern beings, happy or unhappy beings, wise or ignorant beings, selfish or selfless beings, healthy or unhealthy beings.

This is selflessness. This is compassion. This is renouncing the fruit of action. This is what yoga is about.

If we attained yoga, or if the mind realized yoga, then no matter where we are, where we go and how we are, we perceive or see yoga in everywhere and everything.

If the state of the mind is being negative, let it be, but without grasping, clinging or attachment and identification, and let it go. If the state of the mind is being agitated or depressed, let it be, but without grasping, clinging or attachment and identification, and let it go. The mind, or we, can have likes and dislikes, but not letting the likes and dislikes determine our happiness and confidence, not letting it controls or influences our action and speech, not letting it distracts or pulls us away from the inner peace (which is beyond all the different states of the mind).

May all be free from being determined by the modification of the mind. Be the master of the state of the mind. Be the witness of the modification of the mind. Not being over-powered by the modification of the mind. Not being disturbed, or affected, or influenced by the activities of the mind. Not being controlled by the state of the mind.

This is control of the mind.

The mind is the one who is in control of itself, not the ceaseless impure egoistic modification of the mind controlling the mind that influencing it's behavior and life existence being in certain way that might hurt itself and/or others.

Be free.