The Power Of The Mind

“Being very angry and biting His reddish lips with His teeth, Krishna, with false tears in His eyes, broke the container of yogurt with a piece of stone. Then He entered a room and began to eat the freshly churned butter in a solitary place.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.9.6)

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सञ्जातकोप: स्फुरितारुणाधरं
सन्दश्य दद्भ‍िर्दधिमन्थभाजनम् ।
भित्त्वा मृषाश्रुर्द‍ृषदश्मना रहो
जघास हैयङ्गवमन्तरं गत: ॥

sañjāta-kopaḥ sphuritāruṇādharaṁ
sandaśya dadbhir dadhi-mantha-bhājanam
bhittvā mṛṣāśrur dṛṣad-aśmanā raho
jaghāsa haiyaṅgavam antaraṁ gataḥ

“Have you ever watched scenes in a dramatic presentation, be it a movie, a television show, or a play, laugh at what is going on, but not really relate until later on? That has happened to me in recent times.

“The scene depicts being so angry at someone, being obsessed with a supposed insult received. The offending party has no idea, though. When the offended finally brings up what happened, the other person cannot recall. They offer some other explanation for what occurred. It makes total sense, and the offended party feels embarrassed to have wasted so much time being upset, for no reason.

“This has happened to me. I have been obsessed over different things over the years. Those things really didn’t matter. It is like I let these other people control me. For no good reason, either.

“If we think about it, everything comes down to the mind. It is the mind which creates these different situations. The mind maintains the lasting impression. It is almost like watching a recording over and over. Instead of experiencing the torture, just turn off the player.

“The mind should think of something else. It should move on. Is that one of the benefits of genuine spiritual life? We can train the mind to focus on transcendence? We can find peace in any situation through diverting thoughts and attention to a more positive place.”

Shri Krishna explains the same concept in Bhagavad-gita, that the mind can be considered a friend, but also the worst enemy. The uncontrolled mind is compared to a chariot being pulled in different directions simultaneously, manoratha.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: ।
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥

bandhur ātmātmanas tasya
yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanas tu śatrutve
vartetātmaiva śatru-vat

“For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.6)

If you speak to any celebrated champion in professional sports, they will explain how their mind remained steady and calm within tense situations. Whereas the supporters were looking on nervously, desperate for a positive outcome, the athlete on the field still had to play. They had to go through the range of motions that were previously repeated, but this time with immense added pressure.

The question is then how to best control the mind. The answer is yoga. What is the best kind of yoga? The one that focuses on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There are many simultaneous benefits to this kind of yoga.

To begin, desires have a central repository. The mind goes out of control when there are too many desires. To artificially suppress desire, just for the sake of it, for achieving another temporary goal, is rather difficult. The attachment will remain, and the renunciation will only be in pretend.

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य
य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्
इन्द्रियार्थान् विमूढात्मा
मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते

karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate

“One who restrains the senses and organs of action, but whose mind dwells on sense objects, certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.6)

Yoga directed towards Krishna changes the nature of desire. The mind focuses on pleasing the Supreme Lord. This means that other desires will instantly become subordinate. They may linger in the periphery, but they are not indulged. Those desires will not be able to harm me since I am occupied with yoga.

More than a mechanism for controlling the mind, there is the added benefit of connecting with the Absolute Truth. Since Krishna is Absolute in nature, the thought of Him is just as viable as the meeting with Him. Contemplating devotional activities is just as good as carrying them out in real life.

Through yoga for the benefit of Krishna, it is like we are always with God. We may not have been privy to young Krishna breaking a pot of butter in anger, but we can witness the same in the mind. We can keep that image in the mind for as long as we want.

The previous playback loop which haunted us with the vision of bad memories can now show the constant image of transcendence, of the wonderful interaction with the all-merciful Krishna in His favorite place of Gokula, under the loving care of mother Yashoda.

In Closing:

Best to be situated there,
In Gokula village where.

Under Yashoda’s care,
Misbehavior to dare.

That the pot to break,
And some butter to take.

Mother frantically behind,
Rest there my mind.