प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् | उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् || 27 || |
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“Peace comes to that yogi whose mind is completely calm and whose passions are subdued, who is free from sin and who has become one with Brahman.”
Commentary: The biggest treasures one can have in the world are peace and joy. They are hard to get because of strong impressions and restless passions that formed in the mind and heart over many years. Just as the body needs a daily bath, it requires constant daily effort to clean the mind and heart.
One method of gaining control over the heart is to ‘delay reaction’ to likes and dislikes. When the devotee thinks someone is causing anger, frustration, hurt or any of the negative feelings, he should pause and delay his reaction. When the devotee thinks money, food, entertainment, alcohol, sex or any other worldly possessions are going to give satisfaction, he should pause and delay reaction. Delayed reaction gives time to subdue passions, remove habits for immediate gratification and bring out calm wisdom. The devotee will get sufficient time to understand the purpose and consequences of his actions.
Another method of withdrawing and cleaning the mind from desires and sensory disturbances is through the practice of mindfulness meditation. In this practice, the devotee simply focuses attention on his breath and observes his thoughts and sensations as they arise, without judgment or attachment. By consistently bringing the mind back to the present moment and the sensations of the breath, one can gradually train the mind to become more focused and less prone to distractions and desires. The biggest obstacle during meditation is sound so when the environment is calm, that is the right time to meditate. This practice can be done for a few minutes each day, gradually increasing the time as one becomes more comfortable with the practice.