Understanding Meditation - 3 THE RESTLESS MIND

    Forgetting to merge one's attention/ awareness with external things is the very first step in 

    spirituality, for we can remember the Infinite only to the extent that we have forgotten everything else.

- Aghora.

The feedback on my two blogs on Understanding meditation Part 1 and Part 2,  is that although one understood and appreciated the ideas in theory, they still find it difficult to meditate owing to the restless mind and invading thoughts. So in this blog we deal with - mind and thoughts.

In this world, achieving anything of value requires a price to be paid. For a student to earn a Master's degree, they must invest years of hard work and dedication throughout their schooling and college journey. Similarly, for an athlete to win a medal, they must commit to relentless effort, discipline, and rigorous practice to attain the level of excellence required for victory. This principle holds true across all pursuits—whether in the realms of art, business, science, or even spirituality

For humans to reach the spiritual heights of self-awareness, they must pay the price of purifying and stilling the mind. Many seekers, inspired by the writings of spiritual masters, embark on practices with the hope of quickly attaining the profound experiences described in such books. However, when these experiences do not materialize despite their efforts, many become disheartened and are tempted to abandon their journey altogether.

Spiritual realization is a journey comprising two distinct phases. Much like a child progressing through years of study to eventually earn a Master's degree, a seeker must first discipline the mind through sustained effort to purify and still it. This constitutes the foundational phase. The second phase begins when the spiritual dimension unfolds, revealing new realms to explore and ascend.

However, between these two phases lies a significant void—a period of waiting and uncertainty. Despite dedicated efforts to purify the mind, the awakening of the spiritual dimension occurs at an unpredictable time. This process resembles a mother hen patiently incubating her egg; she persists, trusting the natural unfolding, until one day the egg hatches unexpectedly.

The spiritual journey, therefore, is one of patience and perseverance. It all starts with embracing practices like meditation and Japa, which purify the mind and set the stage for this transformative adventure.

MIND -

The mind is a powerful instrument, capable of leading a person to profound understanding and success in various fields. Yet, it has its own inherent nature—it thrives on restlessness and seeks motion over stillness. It feels alive by continuously generating thoughts, emotions, and feelings, rarely at peace.

A human being is composed of a body, a mind, and consciousness. Due to ignorance, consciousness—our true essence—begins to identify itself with the body and the personality associated with it. The mind reinforces this illusion by crafting an individuality defined by attributes like name, age, nationality, class, and religion, thereby constructing the pseudo-identity we call the ego.

Just as the body is sustained by breath, the ego is sustained by the mind. In this dynamic, the mind can be seen as a powerful minister to the King—Consciousness—who, in a state of forgetfulness, has allowed the minister to dominate and rule the kingdom of the body and mind, perpetuating this illusion through countless lifetimes.

The mind sustains the ego’s individuality through traits such as selfishness, separateness, desires, and indulgence, keeping a person constantly preoccupied and enslaved from birth to death. This ceaseless activity prevents one from discovering their true identity as Soul Consciousness. In nurturing the ego, often through comparisons, the mind cultivates negative traits like jealousy, anger, discontent, and hatred, all of which serve to fortify the ego. The relentless demands of the mind create an undercurrent of stress that most people carry unconsciously, leading them to seek the elusive "peace of mind."

The mind has programmed us to believe that we must always be "doing" something to validate our existence. Even in the most serene settings, the mind engages us in a flurry of thoughts. Instead of simply being present in the beauty, we find ourselves doing thinking.

This is why sleep is so rejuvenating and healing. It’s not merely the resting of the body and limbs; even a day spent lying on a bed won’t bring the same peace as true sleep. In sleep, the mind shifts into a subconscious state and becomes inactive, allowing real rest. During this state, one is free from the burdens of identity—name, age, class, nationality, religion, and all the constructs of individuality. In sleep, a person doesn’t even perceive themselves as male or female; they simply Are.

This state of restfulness allows the intelligent body to heal itself more effectively, as the mind’s negativity no longer obstructs the natural processes of rejuvenation. Sleep offers a glimpse into the state of being, unburdened by the mind’s constant demands and the ego’s endless narratives.

MEDITATION -

So in light of the above, lets view meditation. Meditation is the inner laboratory of stillness where we turn our attention inward to explore and understand our true nature.

True meditation is a state of pure Awareness—a state where the restless mind has been consciously quietened. Imagine this state: the mind is silent, yet Awareness is vivid and present. Such a state opens the door to new possibilities, leading to transformative spiritual experiences.

In our wakeful state, the mind is marked by restlessness, constantly flitting between thoughts and emotions. In contrast, the meditative state thrives in silence and stillness. By creating this inner stillness, we cultivate the perfect atmosphere to reconnect with our true essence. In such an environment, the ego cannot survive, for the mind, stripped of its habitual thoughts, can no longer sustain the illusion of individuality.

When Consciousness becomes aware of its own true nature, a profound transformation begins to unfold within. This self-awareness ignites a journey of inner magic, where the more a being identifies with itself as Consciousness, the greater its evolution and expansion. Such a realization empowers one to transcend the limitations of our familiar reality and step into higher-dimensional realms of existence.

As this inner awakening deepens, the Being begins to uncover the essence of pure joy, pure love, and pure wisdom—qualities that are intrinsic to its true nature. It realizes that the happiness the mind once pursued in the external world was an illusion. The joys it sought outside were always within, waiting to be discovered.

This is the profound truth Christ revealed when he declared, "The Kingdom of God is within." 

But when a person sits to meditate, the mind resists stillness and attempts to hijack their attention with a cascade of thoughts to maintain its dominance. Over two decades of meditation practice, I’ve observed that the mind employs four types of thoughts to distract us during meditation:

1. Mediocre thoughts: Trivial matters that we would usually dismiss during our wakeful state suddenly appear important, demanding our attention.
2. Important thoughts: Genuine concerns or tasks that require attention during the day are brought to the forefront.
3. Anxious thoughts: Worries and fears about the future, designed to create unease and pull us away from stillness.
4. Guilt-driven thoughts: Reflections on past failures or unfulfilled duties, aimed at controlling us through guilt and self-criticism.

The mind employs these strategies to engage and scatter our attention. Yet, our Attention is a unique and powerful resource; where we direct it determines what flourishes in our lives.

When the mind is active and focused, it is a valuable tool for achieving success in the material world. When the same mind becomes still and silent through meditation it can lead us to the ultimate victory in the inner, spiritual world.

RESOLVING THE CONFLICT -

The mind thrives only when you feed it with your attention. Withdraw your attention, and the mind naturally becomes quiet. Easier said than done. For most people, the mind is extremely powerful, having wielded control over lifetimes, and it resists surrender. Yet, with perseverance, it is not impossible to overcome its dominance.

Consider your mobile phone. Owning one doesn’t mean you are obliged to answer every call. You have the freedom to ignore, mute, or disconnect calls that aren’t necessary, attending only to those that matter. Similarly, during meditation, you can "mute" your mind—refusing to entertain unnecessary thoughts—and focus your attention instead on simply Being in silent stillness.

A common question people ask is, "What does one 'do' during meditation?" This question itself reveals a misunderstanding. Meditation is not about doing; it’s about Being. In yogic science, Being is considered the highest form of action—the supreme Karm and the ultimate Kriya. It is the state of profound presence, where you let go of all doing and rest in the essence of who you truly are.

However to achieve the state of pure stillness, Masters have given us disciplines such as pranayama, japa, mantra meditation which is a form of doing, but through which the mind becomes still rather than restless. More of this is discussed in Understanding Meditation - 2. 

So meditation is the right environment to practice that Being. How? Simply by creating pockets of silence between thoughts and being keenly Aware. 

Take a moment and think about it!

Creating pockets of silence between thoughts, and ensuring that these pockets keep increasing in time. You need not fight your thoughts or push them away, just do not acknowledge them. Do not feed them your attention. 

Some may find this hard still.

Please understand that the mind is simply a tool, much like the eye, which helps us perceive the world around us.

The eye is incredibly important. Right now, you are reading this blog with the help of your eyes, and your mind is processing the information. Notice how well you control your eyes. Even though there are millions of things around you to see, you have focused your vision solely on this blog, deliberately ignoring everything else. This is how effectively you can control the eye. Similarly, the mind is a tool. You can learn to control it in the same way—by giving it attention only when necessary. When you don't need it, stop feeding it with unnecessary thoughts and simply be.

This is the secret shared by all saints: they use the mind only when required. Otherwise, they dwell in their own inner bliss, free from the distractions and noise of the mind. When we control the mind as we do the eye, we discover a deeper peace and a higher state of being.

Another Yogic secret to subdue the mind is the Breath. Try this - when your mind is restless, consciously and slowly take 3 deep breaths and let go of the breath completely. You will notice the mind go quieter then before.

 

So next time you sit to meditate- 

1. Begin by taking deep breaths and let go of the mind.
2. Create pockets of silence and keenly dwell in BEING
3. Make these pockets of silence larger over time.

Other factors that play a crucial role in calming the mind are the way you live your daily life. Your environment, the company you keep, and the food you consume— not just through your mouth, but also through your eyes and ears— all feed the mind. These influences fuel the mind, and by controlling them, you can begin to control the mind itself. This is why spiritual Masters advocate simple, moderate, and Sattvic living for those aspiring to meditate.

Achieving lasting change in overcoming the mind requires consistent effort and patience. But know that it IS POSSIBLE! One of the greatest Yogi's of the 18th century Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya use to encourage his meditating disciples by saying "Banat banat ban jaye"  simply translated "Striving, striving, one day you achieve!"

(Images - Bahaduri Mahasaya, The levitating Saint, Autobiography of a Yogi & Image drawn by Pascal Campion)

SIMILAR READS -

1. Understanding Meditation - 1

2. Understanding Meditation- 2