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Here are some excerpts from the book ‘The Science of Mind Management’ by Swami Mukundananda:
Why do we seek happiness? We souls are little drops of the ocean of infinite happiness, and hence, our natural propensity is to seek bliss. Until we get infinite happiness of God, we will not be content.
The urge for happiness is as natural to the soul as thirst is to the physical body. It is impossible to think, ‘I will not contemplate happiness anywhere.’ The simple solution then is to envision happiness in beneficial things. Cultivate virtuous desires, such as the desire for inner growth, austerity, service and sacrifice.
If we repeatedly think that happiness is in becoming wise, we will become attached to good knowledge. If we contemplate happiness in good health, we will become devoted to it.
The intellect makes decisions and the mind generates desires. For example, if the intellect decides that happiness is in ice cream, the mind hankers for it.
In other words, the intellect makes the decisions and the mind engages in Sankalp (hankering) and vikalp (aversion). Between them, the intellect’s position is of paramount importance.
Illumine your intellect with divine knowledge, then with the illumined intellect, control the unruly mind. The battle is on between the mind’s cravings and the intellect’s knowledge.
The ability of the intellect to control the mind is called Vivek (power of discernment)
The science of mind management requires us to empower the intellect with right knowledge from the scriptures and then use that illumined intellect to properly govern the mind.
The intellect is like the chariot driver, the mind the reins, and the senses are akin to horses. The intellect needs to be enriched with proper knowledge. The empowered intellect must then use the mind to rein in the senses.
Whenever we come across a gem of knowledge, whether in this book or elsewhere, we should note it down for permanency in our spiritual diary. Then we should contemplate on it deeply and repeatedly. Even one piece of knowledge, if sufficiently reflected upon, has the power to transform us eternally.
Beliefs decide our attitude towards people, objects and situations.
Beliefs forge our worldview itself. They are the lens through which we understand and perceive the world.
This completes the three-fold process to empower the intellect with divine knowledge. First, we do Shravan (hear or read the knowledge), then Manan (contemplate upon it) and then Nididhyasan (develop faith upon it, internalise it, and use it as one’s moral compass).
The tension and anxiety in our emotional being as we adjust to our continually changing environment is what we call stress. Stress develops when we are attached to a particular outcome and worried that things may not turn out as we desire.
Stress is caused by our own attachment to a particular outcome and our unwillingness to accept other possible results.
The remedy for stress is simple – give up attachment to preconceived or wishful outcomes of our efforts. Put in your best efforts without attachment to the results.
Focusing on results alone leads to a good deal of our life being experienced as drudgery, something to be endured until we achieve the summit, our goal.
When we believe that happiness can only be experienced in the future, on reaching the goal, we miss out on enjoying the journey towards it, which is in the present.
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