It can be achieved through the practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation

The human mind over a period of time becomes robust through the technique of assessment of individual differences, behavioural modifications and various skills. Maharishi Patanjali in his treatise Patanjali Yoga Sutra, wrote, Tado drashtuhu swarupe avastham, (Sutra 3), implying that the seer then rests or remains in his/her own nature. This exalted state can be achieved by a disciplined mind. It would be worthwhile to perceive and comprehend Sutra 4; Vrutti sarupyamitarata, that is, a seeker identifies oneself with the modulations of the mind all the time.

The human mind is perpetually bombarded by innumerable thoughts and at the same time is engaged with the outside world all the time. With eyes wide open in a wakeful state an individual is ensnared by the senses of sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. In such a state it has to empty itself and metamorphose to attain tranquility. 

Painter from Milan

An Italian painter was fascinated by the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and the epic Mahabharata. This artiste was overwhelmed with the divine portraits of Hindu deities painted by the legendary Indian painter.Raja Ravi Varma had successfully carved a niche for himself through dexterous fusion of European techniques with Indian sensibilities and made the paintings affordable for Indian art lovers through lithographs.Meanwhile, the proficient Italian painter embarked upon his odyssey to delineate the story of the epic Mahabharata on canvas. He visited several libraries, researched the subject and spent close to ten years and perceived various nuances, undercurrents and emotions of the epic penned by sage Veda Vyasa.

He psychologically coached and up skilled his mind through techniques of looking back into various incidents in his life, understand the meaning of love and affection and discovered bonding and togetherness among erudite scholars of Mahabharata and the fraternity of painters. Vigorous training disciplines and lays down what can be termed as a regimen to harness and upgrade skill-sets. Such kind of upgradation is essential for the human mind to avoid falling into set patterns and instead discover something new.

The mind demands proof

An untrained mind perennially demands proof. It is not a disciplined mind and is still not open to develop psychological skills. Sutra 5 of Patanjali Yoga Sutra states that, Vrutayaha panchtayyah  klishtaklishtaha, meaning that modulations in the human mind are five-fold and could be agonizing or not painful at all. There are some vruttis or modulations of the mind which are unwelcome and unbidden.This has been further explained in Sutra 6, Pramanaviparyayavikalpanidra-smrutayaha; the human mind is either in quest of proof, on the path of wrong understanding, in a state of imagination, in a state of sleep or memory.

Natural states

They may well appear paradoxical but these are all natural stages in life. And it is perhaps essential that the human mind is exposed to such thought processes; for it is from doubts that solutions arise. But it is essential to clear the dark clouds of doubt that envelope the human mind in order to seek clarity. This too can be achieved through developing psychological skill-sets of practice (abhyasa) and discipline. The examples of the Italian painter and the fabled archer Arjuna immediately figure on the list; how their minds could become robust by singularly pursuing the path through practice and discipline.“Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is a strength, mastering yourself is true power,” said Lao Tzu.

(The writer is the CEO of Chattisgarh East Railway Ltd, East west Railway Ltd and is a faculty of the Art of Living)