How to Know and Control Your Mind?
The psychologist talks about the functions of the mind, its attributes, and its relation to the body within the realm of the mind. The yogis or advanced spiritual people observe and transcend it and say about it that is inferred from beyond the realm of the mind. Controlling the mind has different strategies according to them.
Those who realized their mind says that know your mind with the help of your mind. Finally, the seeker will know it as a mere function of the body similar to the other bodily functions. It ceases to exist when digging its source.
Osho said:
“In this world, the greatest courage is to drop the mind aside. The bravest man is who can see the world without the barrier of the mind, just as it is. It is tremendously different, utterly beautiful. There is nobody who is inferior, there is nobody superior – there are no distractions.”
The factual reality is we all perceive the manifested and unveiled world through this higher sense – the mind. This attribute can be slightly realized in ordinary life activities. With the help of ears, we hear the sound only when the mind is involved in it.
When we focus our mind completely away on something, we won’t hear it. Similarly with the eyes. This is the general secret behind advanced meditation techniques where the withdrawal of all physical senses is made with the help of the mind. Eventually, the mind is also controlled and subdued. (Read also 8 Most Powerful and Inspirational Quote in Spirituality)
One main difference between the common man and the advanced spiritual person is when such person says ‘I’ they refer to the real ‘I’ whereas others refer to the illusionary ‘I’. It seems a little hard to apprehend.
This illusion is the real nature of the mind. That’s why some folks are behind such a person who knows the secret behind transcending the mind.
How can I Control My Mind?
Controlling the mind is the real case scenario. It’s truly the practical techniques than the superficial theoretical knowledge. The mere knowledge of swimming doesn’t make you a swimmer unless you implement it in real practice. (Read also How to Control Your Mind and Thoughts During Meditation?)
We can say that the mind is such and such entity. Without inquiring about it, nobody knows it in actuality.
Here is an interesting real story about what the mind really is. This is extracted from the book ‘The Yoga the Alpha and Omega – 1’ authored by Osho.
Bodhidharma, an ancient yogi visited China. The emperor of China went to see him. And, the emperor said, “My mind is very uneasy, very disturbed. You are a great sage, and I have been waiting for you. Tell me what I should do to put my mind at peace.”
Bodhidharma said, “You don’t do anything. First, you bring your mind to me.” The emperor could not follow he said, “What do you mean?” He said, “Come in the morning at four o’clock when nobody is there. Come alone, and remember to bring your mind with you.”
The emperor couldn’t sleep the whole night. Many times he canceled the whole idea: “This man seems to be mad. What does he mean, ’Come with your mind; don’t forget?’”
The man was so enchanting, so charismatic that he couldn’t cancel the appointment. As if a magnet was pulling him, at four o’clock he jumped out of the bed and said, “Whatsoever happens, I must go.
This man may have something; his eyes say that he has something. Looks a little crazy, but still, I must go and see what can happen.”
So he reached, and Bodhidharma was sitting with his big staff. He said, “So you have come? Where is your mind? Have you bought it or not?”
The emperor said, “You talk nonsense. When I am here my mind is here, and it is not something which I can forget somewhere. It is in me.”
So Bodhidharma said, “Okay. So the first thing is decided – that the mind is within you.” The emperor said, “Okay, the mind is within me.”
Bodhidharma said, “Now close your eyes and find out where it is. And if you can find out where it is, immediately indicate to me. I will put it at peace.”
So the emperor closed his eyes, tried and tried, looked and looked. The more he looked, the more he became aware there is no mind, the mind is an activity. It is not something there so you can pinpoint it.
But the moment he realized that it is not something, and then the absurdity of his quest became exposed to him. If it is not something, nothing can be done about it. If it is an activity, then don’t do the activity; that’s all. If it is like walking, don’t walk.
He opened his eyes. He bowed down to Bodhidharma and said, “There is no mind to be found.” Bodhidharma said, “Then I have put it at peace. And, whenever you feel that you are uneasy, just look within, where that uneasiness is.”
The very look is anti-mind because a look is not thinking. And, if you look intensely your whole energy becomes a look, and the same energy becomes movement and thinking. (Read also How to Safely Awaken Kundalini Energy?)
