The entire world that we experience is through the mind. Whatever actions we do are through the mind. Therefore, as our mind, so is our experience of the world; as our mind, so are our thoughts, our actions, and the consequent results. If the mind is miserable, everything appears to be desolate. At that time, even something beautiful may give us a sense of repulsion or even sorrow.

If we want to live a life of productivity and remain happy through the experiences of the world, the only way is to master the mind. If one masters it, one masters the world. Such a person is not a slave to the happenings of the world, nor is he bound by and dependent on things and beings of the world for his happiness.

How dependent are we?

Once, while I was explaining thus, a person ventured, “I am already happy and I can handle most circumstances. Why should I study the science of spirituality? Why do I need to study Vedanta?”

“At this moment everything is the way you want it to be,” I reasoned, “but even if one of those wants is not fulfilled – if your children are unwell, your business suffers, then would you be able to manage it?”

“No! Please don’t say it. If you swamis say something, it will happen!”

“See,” I pointed out, “even the thought of losing something is enough to agitate you and affect your happiness.”

When our happiness is dependent on the world, when the mind insists on things or beings for its happiness, when we feel, ‘I can be happy only if I have certain things or under certain circumstances,’ then how can we always remain joyful and content?

Developing Single-pointedness

As our mind, so is our world; so also, our actions, our reactions and the resultant experience of joy and sorrow. If I do my bounden duties with the sense ‘I am the one who has done it, and the result is only for my happiness,’ then I will be consumed with fear of failure and anxiety to obtain the desired result. Self-interest and greed will creep in, and my mind will be beset with apprehensions and agitations.

The mind can make our life or it can destroy it. Therefore, we have to master it so that we can keep its focus fixed on our duties without anxiety about the fruits (the results), or attachment to specific results. An unwavering, resolute mind develops single-pointedness. When there are no anxieties for the results, the mind becomes calm and free of its dependence on things, beings and situations of the world.

The Bhagavad Gita explains in great detail how to reach this peaceful state of mind and how we can tune it up. A calm, pure, single-pointed mind is an extremely powerful instrument.

What do we understand by single-pointedness? For instance, the scattered rays of the sun can give us light and also a certain amount of warmth. This dispersed light radiating from that power-house of energy, where every inch is a nuclear explosion, cannot burn even a piece of paper. But with the help of a convex lens, a magnifying glass, we can converge the rays to a point and easily burn the paper.

Likewise, this mind is a powerful instrument which can achieve magnificence, which can achieve excellence. However, because its energy gets scattered and dissipated due to various desires, agitations and confusions, we are unable to actualize our ambitions or even enjoy our goals. When we experience the anxieties and disappointments along the way, we are unable to maintain our equilibrium.

The instructions given by Krishna in the first five chapters of the Bhagavad Gita advise us how to keep this mind steady and single-pointed, how not to react, and how to act under all kinds of challenging conditions.

Choose Wisely!

The mind takes up the form of whatever it thinks of consistently. It objectifies it. It manifests it. Hence, if we want to manifest beauty, happiness, magnificence, splendour in our life, we must be attentive to what we meditate or contemplate on. Consider this: if we brood over negativities, all we will experience is sorrow, evil and negativity around us. On the other hand, if we think consistently and positively with the right values, the mind changes its texture and moves towards happiness.

At this moment, we are identified with our mind and we are what our mind is. If our mind is happy, we are happy; if it is sorrowful, we are sorrowful; if it is agitated, we immediately lose our equipoise and peace. As our mind, so we are. Therefore, where we place our mind is extremely important.

One who practises making his mind calm and single-pointed and learns to direct the mind’s thoughts consistently, with steadiness, towards a chosen goal – can transform anything. A person who has mastered his equipment, who has mastered his mind, is no longer a victim of life’s circumstances, but becomes a master of all situations.

The Value of Self-worth

One of the most inspiring instructions of Shri Krishna is:

uddhared-ätmanätmänaà nätmämam-avasädayet,

ätmaiva hyätmano bandhur-ätmaiva ripur-ätmanaù.

Let a man lift himself by his own Self alone, and let him not lower himself; for, this Self alone is the friend of oneself, and this Self alone is the enemy of oneself.

The Lord advises: lift yourself by yourself.

Lift yourself from what? Lift yourself from this present state of agitation, this present state of sorrow, this present state of helplessness, this lack of confidence, this state of doubt, and also lack of faith in this knowledge. Don’t sit back in this miserable condition. Lift yourself by yourself!

Having lifted yourself, don’t allow yourself to become unsteady and fall down again. Let not your inspiration decline. Let not your enthusiasm regress. Keep yourself uplifted.

Another beautiful meaning of na ätmämam-avasädayet is: don’t sit back and think, ‘What can I do?’ Do what you can do. Don’t denigrate yourself. Otherwise, you will remain where you are! Do not think that you are incapable. When you look down upon yourself, you will also disparage other people and their capabilities.

There is no pride or arrogance in discovering your capabilities. Put in the effort to contribute to the world while you are working for your own progress; be grateful for what you have discovered within yourself, for the confidence that the Guru and God have given you. Never underestimate yourself.

Befriend the Mind

Bhagavan adds, “You yourself are your best friend and, you yourself are your worst enemy.” The Self becomes a friend to the one who wants to lift himself. You become a friend to yourself. Conversely, to one who finds ways to create misery for himself and others, who wants to remain helpless, who wants to remain a victim – he becomes his own enemy.

Who can be your best friend? Who makes you realize that you are free to be happy? It is your own mind – a mind that has been conquered, tamed and turned towards the Higher.

Thus, you can become your own best friend; you can also become your own enemy when you allow a mind full of negativities to pull you into lower abysses of misery and sorrow. Therefore, win the mind, win the world. Make your mind conducive to you and do not allow it to enslave you. What a beautiful instruction!

However, a word of caution: do not become a master of the world as a conqueror who causes harm and disaster to the land and its people. There is no greatness in such a victory. Instead, become a master who can spread happiness, who is looked up to with reverence.

None of life’s circumstances can defeat such a victorious person who has won over his own mind. Hence, master your mind!

Footnote: Edited excerpt from Pujya Swami Swaroopananda’s online talks (parts 5 and 6) titled ‘KPI - Krishna’s Powerful Instructions’ from July 25 to August 2, 2020.