Neglecting our real home can be quite painful

I habitually look out of my window to soak in the surrounding greenery. Recently, I noticed a gate of the house opposite mine being painted. To my surprise, this exercise took more than a week. I wondered what was going on in the mind of the owner all this time, with television, newspapers, the internet, etc. spewing negative news on a continuous basis. Yes, all kinds of dirt are finding a place in our mind all the time. Why is it so harmful will become clear as you read this article.

We, souls, have material bodies. Additionally, we also have a subtle body, comprising three faculties, which are mind, intelligence and 'ahankar' (ego). The faculty of mind has three functions, which are thinking, feeling and willing. The feeling part is very crucial. Whatever emotion we have at any particular time is felt through the mind only. For example, if something nice happens, we will feel happy, unless the mind is already disturbed due to a serious problem. What does this tell us? That the mind must always be peaceful to have a normal reaction/life.

It may sound startling, but the mind is the real home of a soul; I am referring to us. A brick-and-mortar home is for our material body. Don't we remain in this real home wherever we go? For example, one is sitting in a beautiful park but is lost in thoughts. Does he enjoy the beauty of the park? Similarly, all the comforts and facilities of a house mean nothing if the mind is obsessed with some problem. It gets worse in old age when one has fewer physical engagements. The enforced loneliness hurts more if the mind is allowed to harbour harmful emotions like greed, anger, lust and hate. Peace is lost, and depression, fears, worries and anxieties dominate the mind. A lovely, well-painted house does not help in getting sound sleep.

All is not lost, though. God can help, and only God can help. This is another reality. The mind is very powerful, as pointed out by Arjuna in verse 6.34 of the Bhagavad-Gita, and confirmed by Lord Krishna in the next verse. Being self-sufficient has limits; this excellent quality does not extend to the control of the mind. It has been tried unsuccessfully over the ages.

Therefore, let us drop our ahankara and take shelter of God and remain there. This means that we must find some ways to connect with God. What better way is there than chanting God's names? Aren't we already used to chanting, yes, our own name by 'mein, mein, mein' (I, I, I)? We just have to switch to the name of God like Krishna, Rama and Shiva. The cleansing of the mind will begin. Gradually, the mind will become peaceful. Surely, one would thank God and be very grateful from the heart for this great mercy of granting the rare peace. Our real home will become very beautiful, better than a well-painted gate.