How to balance the mind?

How to balance the mind?

Monkey Mind Balancing

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Why so much importance has to be given to mind?

Well, it is proven fact that healthy mind has direct positive effect on our  physical health. Hence we should not ignore health of our mind. 

It is common experience that when our mind is uneasy or agitated, we prefer not to take important tasks at the hand. With disturbed mind we will not be able to concentrate at things we want to get done by us.  

It is also known that stressful mind leads to blood pressure, diabetes and other such abnormalities. Therefore doctors advise us to avoid stressful activities.

How To Balance The Mind?

Recent study on this subject revealed that unstable mind causes health problems. 

And peaceful mind ensures sound physical health.  

And sound physical health ensures happiness.

And we all are seeking happiness. 

Obviously, one must take note of this finding that to be healthy one must have stable and  calm mind. Having accepted this fact, let me ponder on the subject further.

Load on the mind-

One can easily remember complaining about the  excess workload one is facing.  Doing different works simultaneously one gets tired and ultimately fails to deliver  the  expected performance. This has strong analogy with our mind.  So, it is important to reduce load on our mind.

How To Balance The Mind?

Now, how to reduce the load on our mind?

Avoiding speaking to our self.

We often see people under stress thinking loudly, speaking to themselves. And they are not aware of the same. This is the stage when mind dominates fully the human behavior.  Such people go on speaking loudly justifying and presuming opposite thoughts continuously.  If we ask them something they immediately become normal. Their mind carry them on like any thing. 

Stop bothering about minor issues unnecessarily. 

This is characteristic of retired people.  Having nothing to do throughout the day, they always find some thing or the other to bother about.  And start comparing with their own old days.  And the mind is restless.

Stop poking nose in other's affairs.

We have tendency that instead of minding our own business, we poke our nose in other's affairs.  Father will interfere in  the affairs of his matured children, issuing unnecessary instruction to sons, daughter-in-law, and so on, thus stressing the mind.

Stop trying to improve others.

To try to improve others is simply waste of time.  Our priority should be self improvement. We must know negative attributes of our nature and try to eradicate them. Applying our entire energy in trying to improve others is simply waste of our own potentials.

Stop comparison and competition with others.

Comparing our  achievement and status in life with that of others only will result in frustration. Competition is another thing by which one tries to compete with other's achievement and status in their life.  And then  the inevitable unnecessary mental labor.

Stop attachment with others. 

Attachment is based on one's emotions.  Stronger the emotions stronger the attachment.  And more the emotions, more the mind is stormy, stimulated. Therefore, minimum the attachment, calmer the mind.

Keep aloof from others affairs.

It is better to mind our own business.

Train the mind to learn concentrating on one issue at a time.

Nowadays, everyone has at least one mobile.  Many have two three mobiles at a time- one their personal and the other given by their employer. And they used to speak simultaneously on two mobiles  thinking that they are impressing people around unaware that they are  exerting  pressure on their mind.  It is simple. Do one thing at a time. 

Do not go on justifying our self.

Some develop the thinking that whatever they think about  some thing, some body is always there to ask their explanation. And assuming this, they go on justifying their thinking, their action etc. This serves no purpose and only increases agitation of the mind.

Avoid people who always complain of some thing or the other.

To complain is a negative aspect which directly affects the attitude of our mind.  If we are in the company of such people, we tend to think like that, our mind gets impressed and starts thinking in similar way.  And what will be achieved by always complaining about some thing or the other.  

Entertain only positive thoughts.

Therefore, wise people advise to go in for satsang which means to listen carefully to good thoughts from the authoritative Guru. But we must not forget that satsang can be achieved by reading quality books.  And reading only is not enough.  One must make endeavor to implement the good thought in our practice.  

Positive thinking helps develop sarasar vivek i.e. power of discretion. 

How To Balance The Mind

To balance the mind, sarasar vivek  must be complemented by ability and willingness to apply the same in our day today life for achieving balanced mind. 

The five sense organs are for us and not the other way around. One should use the sense organs to perceive  the world properly. If the sense organs are allowed to take control, the mind will get astray.

Similarly, one should make own mind to listen to us. And it should not be the other way round.

If we control, our mind is our best friend, otherwise the bitter enemy.


Next time ....

WHAT I HATE THE MOST ABOUT MODERN LIFE AND WHY?

WHAT  I HATE THE MOST ABOUT MODERN LIFE AND WHY?

While expressing my thoughts on the subject, I have to compare the modern life with that in my childhood.  It is like a typical old man speaking and irritating young generation.

For old people it is often suggested not to speak about their old days.  What is the use? Gone is gone.  After all, who is interested in their past life? And whey others should be? But old people are generally adamant as they love their old days, condemning all the negative things of the modern life.

Understanding the modern days, adapting with the modern life, knowing the latest technology and applications and using them in daily life is the sign of liveliness.

But this is not enough.  One has to apply sarasar vivek i.e. power of discretion in this aspect.  For example, how much importance is to be given to mobile phones, computers? Should we allow them to overtake the charge of our lives?

We must appreciate and be grateful for this marvelous technology – mobile phones. Within seconds we are in contact with our loved ones at any time anywhere. Now I can have video call with my son in USA at any time.  That too at negligible cost. Every time after having video call with my son, the feeling of gratitude overcomes me.  I know some decades ago, parents of a child who has gone to USA for education or job could communicate with him by postal letters only – a letter usually took 15 days to reach the child abroad. So we are lucky old people due to the modern life technology.  And we are grateful for that.

Laptop- its application

However, I remember one cartoon sketch wherein the banner showed ‘Get together’ of certain 1975 batch of a school.  All the gathered were shown looking at their mobile phone, without bothering the batch mates they were meeting first time after 35-36 years. But this is the tendency of the people in modern life.  One prefers to get engaged with the person at the other remote end ignoring the ones in front of him.  Moreover, the conversation is not brief but prolonged one. This is wrong.

Nowadays, mobiles are as good as computers. Everything is there, movie, games, camera for photography and video shooting and what not.

Once I came across a quite disturbing incident. Two children aged 8 and 13 years were playing on their separate mobiles.  They were playing the same game and were discussing which weapons should be selected for the particular purpose in the game so as the target is effectively achieved.  This was very unfortunate. 

This led to inevitable comparison with my childhood.  We used to play kites, hide and seek, drawing and painting, open door games like cricket, kabaddi, football, etc.  Those activities gave us ample scope for us to develop love and sense of belonging to the nature, developed our power of imagination, creativity, ideas, physical fitness. Of course, our parents were conscious as to what we were engaged in.  Now in modern life parents appear more helpless than being aware of the activities of children.

Same thing about environment in the family.  After returning home in the evening all are glued to the TV serials, news and all other good for nothing programmes. Very rarely personal exchanges take place among the family members.  Alas, this is a part of modern life. This leads to lack of attachment among the family members. 

Post computerisation, lot of works, especially those of old people, have become easy. For example, paying electricity bills, water bills, municipal tax, banking, other similar works for which otherwise one will have to waste one working day. We old people must express gratitude for the same and ensure secretion of endorphin in their system and achieve rejuvenation, both physically and mentally.

But the darker side cannot be overlooked.  Due to internet, children have easy access to each and every thing they are eager to know but afraid to ask their parents.

Summarily, I can say that all I hate about modern life and technology is because of the wrong application we have been ignoring sarasar vivek i.e. the ability to understand what is right and wrong,what is good and what is bad, what is advisable and not advisable. 

And for having strong sarasar vivek one must put efforts to come into contact with right values in life – moral and amoral, ethical and unethical, humane and inhumane, lawful and unlawful.

And most importantly, having sarasar vivek must be followed by its application in our daily life.

This will lead to transformation in life.

Next time ....

How to learn meditation at once?

How to learn meditation at once?

HOW TO LEARN MEDITATION AT ONCE

*image credit: pixabay.com

Recently I came across this question from a young enthusiastic friend.  

I must confess envying his good luck to have come across the word meditation at this young age in life.  

Generally we people take interest in such topics when we are reaching half years of our total  life span when we lose interest in daily life, for some or other reasons. And start wondering why life does not make any sense ?

I told him that I am not a qualified person in the subject of meditation and other related things as to be able to answer. But applying common sense and my inner wisdom I can give some information on the topic. Then it is up to you to decide further in the matter.

How to learn meditation at once?

It is advisable to refer to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. 

Yoga And Meditation

*image credit: pixabay.com

One must ensure to understand gist of each step and implement it in totality and then only proceed ahead.  No jumping the steps. 

There is no fast train on spiritual path towards Samadhi. 

Of these eight Sutras, it is better to initiate the proceeding step by step.

How to learn meditation at once?

These 8 sutras are-

Yama- Niyama- Asana- Pranayama- Pratyahara- Dharana- Dhyana- Samadhi-

Yama-

These are ethical rules of Hindu religion (I think they must be similar in all religions). Like -Ahimsa, (nonviolence) Satya,(truth), Asteya (non-stealing),Brahmacharya  (marital fidelity), Aparigraha (non-possesiveness)

Niyama -

Shouchya, (purity of body, speech and mind) Santosha -( contentment and acceptance of life as it is) Tapas -(austerity,persistence), Swadhyaya (study of self, self reflection, study of own thought, speech and action)-Ishwarpranidhana -( contemplation of true self, the reality.

Asana -

Sthirsukhamasanam - a steady comfortable posture for a period of time, staying relaxed, steady, comfortable and motionless to achieve further progress in pranayama.

Pranayama-

Regulating breathing by variations in breathing way - short, deep, regulating inhaling and exhaling , deep inhalation and forced exhalation (pl. refer to the authentic source.)

Pratyahara-

It is empowerment of mind to stop being by the controlled by worldly things thus seeking and attaining absolute freedom.

Dharana-

Without allowing one’s mind to drift away focus it at inner state of mind.

Dhyana-

It is process of mind to contemplate on focus of one’s dharana.

Samadhi-

It is oneness with the subject of Dhyana.

How to learn meditation at once?

Please note.  The author is a  layman and not expert on the subject. The above information  is  and collected by general reading. It is insisted here that before adopting the above information  into practice one must seek guidance of a qualified master in the subject. The author will not be in any way responsible for the reader's decision in the matter.

I would like to insist there is no shortcut in the spiritual path.

Place and time to start yoga and meditation are not hurdles if one follows the above steps consciously.

Next time......

The journey within - the need

THE JOURNEY WITHIN -  THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

Last week, one of my old friend met me after a long time.  After pleasantry exchanges, I was informed that recently he had been to pilgrimage to one of the most sacred place in northern region of the country.  As he informed, the sole intention was to express gratefulness and seek blessings of the Lord.  And he seemed to be very happy for doing the same.  He went on to narrate his experiences of utter discomfort and hardships he had to go through which dominated in our conversation.  I consoled him saying that anyway he achieved what he intended to.  But he said he was not sure.  

THE JOURNEY WITHIN -  THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

Back home, my friend's experience was stimulating me.  There are so many things which are part of our family, social, cultural, religious aspects of life.  We have considerable dependence on them.We do have interactions at different levels and from which we cannot remain aloof.  It is great idea to express our gratefulness to them.

At this stage, another thought entered in my mind.  

This was interesting thought.  While we take cognizance of external things, we seldom take into consideration  the things on which our very existence depends. To say it clearly, in this life our very existence is depending on our body.  The body is live because of its  various internal  physiological  system on which we have no control.  To speak in terms of primary school level lessons, our respiratory system, blood circulation system, nervous system, digestive system, and so on.  Why not undertake pilgrimage to my  body's internal organs which are performing round the clock in my body?

THE JOURNEY WITHIN -  THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

At this time around, I was returning from my morning walk when I missed a step on the tiled track. My left hand thumb got sprained.  For three days I was aware of my thumb and its sprain.  On a lazy afternoon, having nothing to do all of a sudden I decided to have a journey within.


After resting in shavasana,  I started my journey within.

THE JOURNEY WITHIN -  THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

I closed my eyes, relaxed my body taking three consecutive deep breaths. I brought my inner awareness at the middle of my eyebrows.  Then twice I thought to myself that I am going to visit all my vital organs in the body and express my gratitude.

I started with my brain.  I visualized meeting my brain.  It was busy in its activities.  You are really working hard, I must appreciate, I said and hugged my brain in love and expressed my gratitude.

Next, I went to my eyes.  'Because of you, I am able to perceive the world around me. I am really grateful.' 

Then it was my tongue I met.  'Thanks a lot.  Because of you, I am able to  taste and decided what to eat or not.  Because of you I am able to exchange my thoughts with the world by speech. '

Next I met my respiratory system.  I expressed my heartfelt gratitude for the vital functions being performed by it.

Then, there was my entire digestive system, consisting of lever, pancreas, the intestine, the kidneys.  They all appeared very busy, unaware of me.  However, drawing their  attention to me, I expressed my gratitude for the work being done by them which was very much vital for me.

Then the most important organ of the body, heart. It was busy pumping in and out and taking care of the vital blood circulation.  I expressed my heart-felt gratitude to my heart. My heart seemed to display sort of satisfaction on its face (?) without stopping its function.

Concluding my first journey within I came back to the starting point.

THE JOURNEY WITHIN -  THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

Relaxing my body I took three consecutive deep breaths. I focused my inner awareness at the middle of my eyebrows. I affirmed to myself twice that I have expressed gratitude to all the vital systems and organs in my body.  And I feel relaxed and  experiencing peace peace of mind.

I must state here that after this session, there was no trace of pain or uneasiness in my left hand thumb. Not only that I felt the tremendous feeling of total rejuvenation in my body.

Therefore, I decided to share my above experience with all those interested.

THE JOURNEY WITHIN -  THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE

A little search on the internet revealed that sincerely expressing gratitude help release endorphins throughout our body resulting in whole body system rejuvenated.

Next time ....

What is my routine to keep myself healthy?

What is my routine to keep myself healthy?

Before revealing the secret, let me first ponder over the meaning of  term healthy.  The term healthy is adjective of health.  According to World Health Organization, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being apart from the absence of disease or  infirmity.  Obviously, healthy means to be free from disease or pain, ability to enjoy health and vigor of body, mind and spirit. 

After joining my first job, once I was going for medical test when one of old college friend met me. On preliminary exchange, he came to know that I was going for some medical test.  He warned me, saying that what is wrong with you? If you feel hungry, have no digestion problem, and enjoy regular sleep and normal carnal pleasures, you are absolutely healthy and fine.  He further cautioned me about medical  practitioners' trap for such victims for exploitation.

Who can ignore the  generations old saying that health is wealth? We will be unfortunate if we do not understand the significance of our traditional wisdom.

Before expressing further, let me think over again if really I can see myself as healthy.  Yes,I am positive. 

Because, I can, by God's grace, take care of my daily physical needs, brushing teeth, taking bath, going to toilet, taking my lunch and dinner comfortably, go for morning and evening walks, enjoy music, can enjoy good humor with smile, and most importantly I need not put efforts to display a hearty smile. 

Even if I initiate conversation with unfamiliar persons, they do not run away from me.  So I am confident in thinking that I am healthy in spite of my medication.

I can enjoy whatever dish offered to me - salty, sweet, hot, spicy, anything vegetarian.  Of course, I am careful not to take anything in excess.

I read autobiography of one famous medical practitioner in India who is retired now, 75 + in age, physically fit.  He says that at this age also he does suryanamaskaras i.e. sun salutation exercise to keep himself in good health and physique.  He says it is his own experience to have achieved the benefits of suryanamaskaras.

As I always think, reading only is not enough.  Such wisdom we come across in books we must try to bring in our practice in our own interest. I have been particular to follow his advice and am happy with the results I am getting.

Recent research has revealed that mind and body have direct relation.  If mind is healthy, it has great effect on our physical health.  Stable mind ensures good health and unstable mind leads to sickness and abnormality in our body functions.

Recent reading introduced me to the astonishing process of self affirmations and its advantages we can realize.  And yes, I have implemented the same in my daily routine. I apply the technique of self affirmations three times a day - immediately getting up in the morning,  while enjoying morning walk and immediately before going to sleep in the night. This has given me great peace of mind, enthusiasm and vigor to enjoy my life.

Some of the affirmations I apply in my routine :-

I am healthy,  strong and happy.

Every day I am getting healthier, happier and better.

My inner wisdom always guides me in the life.

I am grateful for all that life has given me.

I am grateful to my mind and body.

Apart from above, as per the need I feel, I work out new relevant affirmations. This gives great results and is reflected in my good heal - physical and mental.

Next time .....

Deodorant challenge

Deodorant challenge

I learned about this term ‘Deodorant challenge’ on the net.  

Deodorant challenge means holding a can of aerosol deodorant on the skin and spraying for a longer period.  This is latest craze among the teenagers. The change in the temperature on the skin can cause serious burn injuries.

So I decided to learn more about what is deodorant and antiperspirant.  And by doing some search on the net, I gathered the following information.

Both these terms are related to the natural process of regulating the body temperature and discharge the toxins.  When we are experiencing hot weather, or too much threat to our own existence, or go through physically stressful activity, the natural process of cooling the body temperature starts what we normally say sweating. Note here that profusely sweating is one of the main symptom of heart attack.

The perception developed that sweating leads to bad body odour, thus irritating the people we interact with.  

Here again, the criteria are different for different people we interact with, eg. peer group, our superiors, and most importantly with the opposite gender. This perception led one to experience lack of confidence, guilt feeling etc. 

By taking bath regularly, once or even twice a day complimented with good oral hygiene, was found not enough to overcome the problem of sweating which is inevitable during the course of the day.  Therefore, overcoming the body odour due to sweating was one of the considerations.  

The other consideration was by adding little fragrance, one immediately feels in right mood. 

The next was confidence building by not remaining conscious of own body odour throughout the day. There was also a thinking that only looking good is not enough but to attract others,especially the opposite gender, one should have good body smell.

Hence, welcome the antiperspirant and deodorant. 

For representative purpose only.

Antiperspirant helps us in solving the problem of sweating by covering the pores on our skin stopping the process of sweating. 

But as if stopping the sweating was not enough, it was felt necessary to have deodorant that reduces body odour by killing the bacteria living on our skin.  These bacteria when mixed with body sweat creates body odour. 

Thereafter, it was sheer commercial application which brought about so many brands of antiperspirants and deodorants.

Considering the above, one is compelled to think – is it essential to use antiperspirants and deodorants in first place?  Is there any natural remedy for that?

Yes, why not? Sandalwood, essence of fragrant flowers like Jasmine,  Plumeria, Roses, Parijat, Lavender etc. mixed with coconut oil can easily be used.

Application of coconut oil added with little essence of sandalwood and fragrant flowers can easily provide best natural option for antiperspirants and deodorants. The mother nature embraces us with open arms in spite of our tendency of ignoring and neglecting her. We must not forget, no chemicals no harm to our health.

I also feel that having good diet, sound physical and mental health we need not use deodorants and antiperspirants.

One small anecdote here.  My immediate boss, who was a highly qualified officer at national level, once suggested me to use deodorant.  It gives fresh feeling to you and other people you come in contact throughout the day, he said.

I wanted to know whether I gave bad body odour which irritated him. He replied in negative.  I informed him that for me it was sort of having prejudice with other people  using deodorant while interacting with them leading to my own inability to feel the fragrance of their deodorant. It was just like after enjoying one sweet dish we cannot enjoy another sweet dish.  We need to have something salty in between to be able to enjoy next sweet dish.

What is your take?  Your comments please.

 Next time …..

Do you know benefits of walking?

Do you know benefits of walking?

I did not know benefits of walking till recently I experienced in my life.

I had picked up practice of 60 push ups every morning to stay fit.  For this I had to make adjustment in my daily tight schedule.  Since 2002 I replaced this daily exercise with Pranayama, the breathing exercises.

But this proved not enough for maintaining my physical fitness as after crossing the middle age, I was diagnosed with High BP and later on diabetic condition due to my stressful work environment and hard daily commuting of about four hours.

Along with medication prescribed by my physician,  I added morning walks in my daily routine in addition to Pranayama.  That too for approximately one hour daily.  Of course, this was possible because now I had retired from my service and was having ample time at my disposal.  I did not know the benefits of morning walk.  

But soon it became obvious.  My tailor complimented me remarking that my waistline has reduced by 4 inches.  I realised that I had not bothered to note down my waistline measurement to compare it with the reading later on.   This was a step ahead towards having good physique. I  must confess  I was pleased with my tailor's compliment.  

It is my observations that so far, by God's grace, I have no symptoms of arthritis, pain in knees, joints, spondylitis, heart problems, which are the most likely pattern while ageing.  So far on one occasion, my physician has reduced power of my diabetics tablets, which is a great compliment and encouragement for me!

And while ageing, we are naturally inclined to have old age where we are not dependent on anybody, we can eat what we want, we can go for a walk whenever we feel to do so and more over we are in a position to enjoy our old age.  I feel very enthusiastic when I get up in the morning eager to meet the day ahead.  With zeal I start may day. This I think is a sign of good and sound health.

Let me share with you the following -

I take care not to mingle with people who often tend to criticise others, always complaining about some body or some thing in their life, who are negative minded.  It is not only waste of time but also likely to affect our own mind and consequent reflection in our own health.

I  prefer people who are always smiling, take matters lightly in the life, are loving and compassionate in nature.

Most importantly, I decided and implemented the idea that the morning time when our mind is fresh, should be utilised for sending right messages to our subconscious mind, which has great influence on our overall health.  For this, I had prepared a few lines of self affirmations which I meditatively repeat in my mind while walking.  This has resulted in my sound body and mind health.

Lot of exposure to morning sunlight is received by me which is good source of vitamin D significant for build up and maintenance of calcium in the body, which is most important need in old age.

Throughout the day I feel energetic, enthusiastic and fresh.

My mind works always in positive direction.

I think in the morning walk, being in the company of the nature I achieve overall rejuvenation of both body and mind.

This is really a great experience.

Some day I will share my experience on mental bath which practice has given me astonishing results.

Next time....