Besides ourselves, no one can enter our minds. We need to please Almighty to entice Him to enter our minds and help control it, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
If you are mentally strong, then you won’t fear much regarding your own safety or well-being of your near and dear ones for two reasons. One, you won’t need their protection so much. Two, you won’t be afraid of being burdened by their being sick, etc.
This is very nice but how does one become mentally strongIJ Is this not everyone’s dreamIJ To begin with, one must have good control over the mind because if that is not there, mental strength is a non-starter. Some will contest this premise and state that they can be mentally strong while still pandering to the whims of their minds. This strength is not the real thing. Mind control means that one should be able to control one’s emotions and be guided by intelligence in all of one’s activities. Even saints have difficulty in achieving this state because the mind, being the leader of senses, is easily overcome by faulty desires, harmful emotions, etc. Then, one lacks real intelligence also. The intelligence, which is not sharpened by spiritual knowledge, will be inadequate mostly, as is our experience also.
If mind control is so difficult, then how does one achieve itIJ We have to approach someone who can enter our minds and help in controlling it. You may have guessed it; that person is God. Besides ourselves, no one can enter our minds. It is place entirely secluded. So we need to please God to entice Him to enter into our minds and help control it. What does God do to help usIJ He tricks us, if necessary, in order for us to do what is desirable by arranging the circumstances. I will give my personal example. I had gone for CT scan of my heart as a routine check for my age. There they could not see much of the heart due to calcification. Therefore, the doctors present there advised me to get an angiography done. The word ‘calcification’ scared me, not knowing what could be its implication. Therefore, I didn’t wish to delay knowing what this was. Therefore, I gave permission to do the angiography test. The doctors arranged it immediately, though there are always people waiting to get this procedure done. Angiography done, I was informed that out of my arteries, one was blocked substantially and the rest were all clear. Again, the doctors asked me as to what should they do. I enquired about my options. They said that a stent must be put in the clogged artery. Having no other choice, I gave my concurrence, and the stent was put. Had I planned it, I would have suffered a lot of anxiety during the waiting period. God keeps on giving hints that He is protecting not only us but our near and dear ones. One can understand why a devotee will be protected by God, but why his near and dear onesIJ Because the lord does not wish to give pain to His devotees. Slowly, one develops staunch faith in God. Are we not attracted to such benefitsIJ
How else does one become mentally strongIJ One must be aware of the nature of the mind, which is fickle, pulls forcefully, is strong and is obstinate. (Gita 6.34) The mind can only be controlled by practice. Here the word ‘practice’ mostly means spiritual practices like meditation. A soul, once in a material body, develops affinity for mundane activities; is not naturally attracted to spiritual activities; one has to force oneself to do them. Simultaneously, one must try to get detached from harmful sense objects. (6.35) Yes, we cannot do without using sense objects, but our choices must be proper. The starting point of getting attracted to wrong sense objects is faulty desires. (Gita 2.55) This tendency must be curbed at the origin itself. Naturally, one must maintain strict control over one’s senses; one should maintain some distance from harmful sense objects. Qualities of patience and tolerance, if inculcated, go a long way in boosting our mental strength.
In conclusion, we can all agree that being mentally strong has enormous benefits. One avoids a lot of suffering; is unlikely to be afflicted by mental diseases. One will not be dictated by emotions in taking decisions. One can develop good habits, and can get out of bad ones. One will be peaceful. One can concentrate well and excel in chosen activities. One is likely to reach one’s potential. I can go on but I am sure you have got the idea.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com