Mind and Senses

The Saints tell us that the mind is the greatest and the only obstacle in the way of God - realization. It is ego-centered, pleasure-loving and vain. It forgets that its existence in the world is no more than a bubble that may burst at any minute, and that the body enclosing it will eventually perish. Its outward and downward tendencies keep it tied to the transient, evanescent objects of the world. Its actions, whether good or bad, only result in keeping the soul in the perpetual round of birth and rebirth.

Mind is the deadliest of foes, but the most useful of servants. When it turns wild and gets out of control, it heads for certain destruction. When properly awakened and controlled, there is no limit to

what the mind can do. As a step towards liberation, Soami Ji calls upon us to "turn the hostile mind into a friend."

In order to gain mastery over it, we have to study its nature. Relentlessly and restlessly, the mind tries to experience and enjoy everything. But nothing seems to satisfy its ravenous hunger. The acquisition of wealth and power gives rise to endless desires. Our possessions become the master, instead of being our slave. The passions gradually forge heavy chains around us, bind us to the baser things of the world and invariably harden our heart.

Though the mind is fond of pleasures, no single pleasure ever pleases it for all time. It gives up one pleasure as soon as it gets or sees a better one. Unless, therefore, it comes across something vastly superior to the pleasures it already has, it cannot be successfully weaned away from them. Otherwise, if it should become detached and find nothing to attach itself to, it would react and rebound, and go back to its pleasures and enjoyments with redoubled vigour.

There is no end to our desires and cravings, and we have to return to this world in order to fulfil them. Barely do we leave one body before another stands ready for us. We are hardly rid of one fetter when a tighter one is fastened onto us. Ceaselessly are we goaded by the invisible angels of Death. What sufferings do we not go through, what rapids and whirlpools do we not face, what lashings of the mighty waves do we not encounter, what tempestuous storms and raging gales do we net have to struggle against. And every succeeding link of the chain of our lives is stronger than the one that preceded it.

The realization of the deception of this drama comes only when we wake up-at the time of our death. The moment death closes upon us, everything of this world -- friends and relations, wealth and possessions, name and fame, caste and creed -- is left behind. Only then do we realize that our time has just been wasted in illusion, in trying to make ours that which can never become ours. We nonetheless persist in taking this illusion as the ultimate reality. We continue to feel miserable and unhappy because our soul, being separated from the Father, is perpetually yearning for its own Source.

The Saints constantly tell us that there is no lasting peace and happiness outside in this world. Instead of trying to find it outside, they say we must try to find that peace and happiness within ourselves. It is not love for the transient, but love for the Eternal that will be our real succour, our true sustenance, for it alone will bring us lasting peace, both here and beyond.