Swami Sukhabodhananda: Use the mind

Mind is a bundle of thoughts. More than heart attacks, we suffer from thought attacks. When thoughts attack us, we become victims of thoughts. It is like employing a servant and being thrashed by him. You should be the master of the mind rather than the mind being your master. You should use the mind rather than let the mind use you. The very intention to be the master of the mind will give you the wisdom of how to use the mind.

I am still not clear on the expression, ‘The wisdom to use the mind.’

OK. Look at it from this angle. People complain about their wives dominating them, their bosses dominating them. However, if you closely observe, it is our own mind that dominates our lives. Just as in the case of Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour, wherein one washes hands continuously even when not required; in a similar manner there are compulsive thoughts. Mind constantly chatters. The chattering mind dominates us. When compulsive thoughts exist, we become slaves to them. Once you learn to be calm, you are in control. When required, use thoughts; when not, just be empty.

Why should one be calm and go beyond mind?

Generally we are dominated by thoughts … compulsive thoughts. When the mind is noisy, we feel burdened. There is a voice of the mind and also there is a voice of the soul. The voice of the soul is silence. We do not experience silence, as our mind is noisy. The voice of the soul is nourishing, whereas the voice of the noisy mind is perishing. In order to hear the voice of the soul, one should put an effort to end the noisy mind.

Why do people consume drugs like LSD….?
A noisy and pushy mind leads one to a state of unhappiness. It constantly bullies and dominates us. We have become slaves to it; we want to escape from it. Some use mind-blocking or mind-altering drugs such as heroin, ecstasy or LSD. The temporary illusion of calming the mind takes away the stresses and we feel unburdened and relaxed. This momentary relief of noise and pressure leads to repeated use of drugs.

Swami Sukhabodhananda is the founder-chairman of Prasanna Trust and a spiritual leader