Re: Awareness of the Mind and Thoughts

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!

Dear devotees, please accept my humble obiesances.

I have some Mormon friends and in their literature it speaks of enduring to the end. This saying is a good one I feel, a lifetime of spiritual culture for the duration of this birth.

Spiritual life is of the utmost importance for humanity as we know, but unfortunately some cultures do not place it as the pinnacle of life within their societies ( and support structures). And for some on the more 'subtle platforms' the mind is very vast, covering all dimensions of heavenly treats and sometimes hells - therefore a great need for spiritual culture to understand what we are, and to find lasting peace and well being. And yes, spiritual life is very important and a serious concern, but with the cultivation of 'devotion and simplicity' there is also much humor and joy - and understanding.

As the nature of bliss manifests in the heart, our true nature, we can see 'humor and humanity' pervade this earth. And compassion and understanding of others (minds) can develop from there, and the spiritual way understanding of our-selves also grows. Gurudeva has written on his google chat heading in the last few days that we can find ourselves by immersing ourselves in Nitaai-Gaura Bhakti.

I lived with a serious mental health condition for over a decade, with very little spiritual insight, wrestling with the mind. As the yoga process began after that period, I then began to wrestle the mind with yoga, and it had some good effect. But then I found real healing began when I let the mind go - then it began to quieten naturally (it seems to be built that way). Infact the mind became more vast with greater scope and vastness of heavens and hells - but by realizing the silent joy and peace - the mind is no longer the identification, it is the field of application. And in a profound way a grace of God to cultivate in devotion.

At one point in the illness, and still somedays due to bad habit, I tried to shut the mind thoughts down by replacing it with mantra (by no means potent mantra). But in due course I found wrestling wasn't the way! Infact such a course had potential for a more unhealthy mind - even compulsive possibilities. It is impossible to shutdown the mind, but is possible to find silence...

The best way I found is surrender and trust in God in devotional mood, to walk freely in light and love, in the kingdom of God. Then humor and joy cannot but be - even if we live sometimes in hell ;) God will carry what we lack and show us all things we need (buddhi yoga/bhakti yoga, they are non-different)!

Here is a verse that I love:

Bhagavad Gita 2.44
"Too attached to material opulence and sense enjoyment, their minds are stolen away, and resolute insight in samadhi is not forthcoming."

Commentary by Swami BV Tripurari: Sridhara Swami comments that samadhi is single minded concentration leading to consciousness of God. Baladeva Vidhyabhusana defines samadhi as that condition in which correct understanding of the self is perfectly achieved. Arjuna asks Krsna about the state of samadhi later in this chapter (2.54). Krsna answers him in the concluding section of this chapter (2.55-72). Absorption (samadhi) in sacrifices leading to Brahman are discussed in chapter four (4.24-29), and yoga samadhi and its basic varieties are discussed at length in chapter six. end quote.

Really the key, I feel, is what has been suggested in this thread - full absorption in God and spiritual culture! Then we will see Gaura-Krsna everywhere in all things, even the shadow.

aspiring service...Nava.

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