Calming the Mind

The Indian sages used a method called yoga, (meaning to yoke), and meditated on a light in the heart, or used a hypnotic mantra. Mantra is a word or sound which is supposed to have real and direct junction with its sacred meaning. In all religions, we find that there is some symbol or word usage that is used for the purpose of concentrating the mind, channelling it towards Divinity. Verbal formulae, however, is used also in witchcraft, primitive ritual, and even the repetitive lines that we used to get as children in school, when we got detention. It is not so much a question of the word sound or sentence itself, but rather the repetition, that is intended to concentrate the mind.

Repetition is a rather negative way to go about achieving some degree of one pointed concentration, as it then becomes a matter of blocking thoughts. When we study or watch a good film or some sport, we have focused the mind, and blocked the world and its problems outside. When we come out of the film into the cold night air, for all the distraction that the film engendered we return to the same world.

I am not proposing somehow that the value of mantra, as repetitive practice, is a negative means to achieving, either mental tranquillity, or happiness. The point is that the real permanent, and changed happiness, (with a capital H), is something else – a separate entity. It is a natural achievable entity, but unfortunately, sometimes seems to lie at the heart of a maze. Just as a person with a map can find a route through a strange city, so if we are equipped with a map of the workings and ways of the subtle mental forces, behind the world of human existence, we can plot our way to the heart of reality. We need to know what the mind is, what it does, and how it functions. We need to know the effect of our mind on our lives, our personalities, and most importantly, on happiness. We need to know how other minds affect ours, and understand national minds, and culture.

If the information that we need for our map is beginning to sound a bit complex don’t worry. Even in a big city like London, if we wish to reach the centre we only need to approach from one direction, as we only need one route in order to reach a goal. Similarly if we wish to weave our way through the minds maze, and hit the centre, we only need some fairly simple instructions, and knowledge of what we are likely to encounter on the way – the landmarks as it were.

It is easier if you have a space in which to think and reflect in peace and quiet. You therefore set aside time for your purpose in this matter, leaving family friends, and business, to wait a while. Make the spiritual journey a very important part of your life. Unlike money in the bank, this is practice that you can take with you to the beyond, so, sit on your own and reflect, and meditate, whether it be every day, or week. Without these recharging interludes, our human spiritual batteries run flat, and sometimes we even become incapable of resolving simple ordinary life conflicts, let alone deep meaningful ones. Taking out your own time and space is not antisocial; it allows you to develop into a better person all round.

Many perceive that withdrawal from social activities is only negative, but “non-activities” are not destructive. It is the very nature of the world that it throws up each individual “waiting periods”. It is a natural protective phenomenon, even when nothing seems to be happening, and even if we feel frustrated, agitated, or bored, when we cannot be getting on with something. If we can imitate nature’s own method, and create our own quite uneventful periods, we control better our destiny and future, instead of being like a leaf that is blown hither and thither by events, and people around us. There are a variety of phenomena that are sometimes placed upon us by circumstance, and free or seemingly empty time, may not be easily acceptable, simply because of how we may perceive it.

It is also something of a shock, that having sat down, having cleared a space, and started meditating, that agitation, boredom and so forth, may arise and dominate the mind. This meditative space can be a wonderful and necessary refuge, but may also stir a variety of unwelcome thoughts that had not been in the plan. This may be why we don’t hear much public eulogy about the benefit of meditation, because it is a common experience, that sitting down, even for five to ten minutes, in absolute stillness, can be akin to herding cats! The mind is a wild untamed creature for many, which leads, rather than is lead. When you decide to do something about this, and have a disciplined state of affairs, the mind (or perhaps rather the ego), can become most upset, and tries to resist attempts at any form of mental introspection. Meditation can be difficult and even “depressing” – that is just the first obstacle!

To overcome the fickle mind is not easy, and it may seem impossible to get to a state of perfect yoga. A perfect yogi is not one who can sit in a cave motionless for months at a time. If one controls his or her mental environment, wherever that may be, the setting is not so important. However environment can play a large part in any yogic practice, as suitable surroundings, access to guides, and spiritual information, may help aid the mental processes. We can only do so much and only afford so much of our time getting into mental shape, but we cannot mend perfectly a pot that is broken, from which there are a few pieces permanently missing. We do what we can in this respect, just like bringing an older car up to a state of roadworthiness, by fine tuning and renovation.

When we practice yoga for our physical well-being it is called hattha yoga. This is a system of exercise, not just to make a fit and healthy body, but to assist in purifying our mind. Purification of the body means that even the subtle and microscopic parts of the nervous system are cleansed, paving the way for higher mental-based exercises. Such exercises lead then from action (Kriya) yoga to Raja (kingly) yoga, where we move on to meditation, via specific exercises, and perhaps use of mantras. Sounds or words associated with inward spiritual states require time to practice, to achieve a perfection or attainment in sufficient depth. This may seem difficult, as most of us cannot aspire to the heights of ascetics who live in caves, and meditate all their waking hours. However mantra meditation, once set into solid rhythm and practice, can be made into an effortless aspect, as then it can be done whilst doing other activities, at any time. We need something that doesn’t need us to dip into our precious time that enables us to boost mood to something better than bearable. We need to be able to transcend our daily problems at times, without having to put ourselves into a trance like state of mind.

The Vedanta ancient philosophy of Indian sages, has been promoted as a panacea for multiple problems that are based on our mental reactions, perceptions, and involvement in the world. Vedanta means literally end of the Vedas, and is a part of the vast complexity of ancient India philosophy. Vedanta however, seems to oppose the personal concept of Deity, on major points, and separates away from the worshipping of many gods, or performing rituals. God is one transcendental state, without never the less, totally denying the value and purpose of a personal god. It does critically analyse sacrificial and ritualistic worship, and even the penance of the yogis. Vedanta seeks to clear away the clutter of ritual, and point to the discovery of the inner soul – the Atma, which is one with the cosmic soul – Brahma. There is some similarity with monotheism, but we are told to seek a different kind of truth where our own soul is not in any way separate from the Universal.

Advaita Vedanta is not the pathway of devotion to a Personal God. Advaita means “without plurality-oneness only”. It is a more “pure” form of Vedanta. It proposes a way of being, as already perfected souls in a oneness with the whole of creation. It may be hard to swallow, that we ourselves are God, that the Atma is the same substance as Brahma. The Vedantic mantra is Tat Twam Asmi – That I Am.  Or the mantra, Soham – I am that (Brahma). Meditated on with the inhalations and exhalations of breath.

I am Brahma, cosmic consciousness. As a drop of water is not a separate entity to the ocean, so I am not in essence separate from the Divine. This very form or substance of life is also called Sat-Chit-Ananda, or Existence, Knowledge, Bliss. All that Vedanta treatises teach can seem a far cry from the world of organised religion, messiahs, bishops and infallible preachers. Advaita Vedanta is almost a “godless” philosophy, almost an atheistic philosophy, in some ways. It is a way to realisation, as understanding of ourselves, and the world as it really is, free from any supernatural power or need for “religious” belief. Broadly speaking it is a universal creed that owes allegiance to no religious persuasion.

Many books have been written about the subject in depth and all the Vedantic scripture has been the subject of exhaustive and numerous commentaries by a variety of learned scholars, both Eastern and Western, both ancient and present. You can obtain enough books and information about the subject to last you a lifetime’s reading. The problem though, is the application this concept of being God, or even Godlike, or even of the same substance as God. It is difficult especially when we are tied up with work, marriage and business.  When we are tied up with the world of Maya, the illusory nature of experience, it can be difficult to really believe that we as individuals are nothing but pure consciousness, which has taken various transient human forms, within this mire of externalised experience.

To repeat the mantra Soham we are saying “I am identical with the all-pervasive external and internal life force”, and we are practising a philosophy that says, don’t identify yourself with body or mind, or with your role in the day ahead. It’s simple deep breathing, with a mantra in tune with the essence of self, which will help you to float through the day in serenity.  Breathe So on the inhalation, and Ham on the exhalation.

It is useful to wake up 5 to 10 minutes before you need to do anything, and use that short space of time in vital introspection. You need to make your day goe smoothly, so give yourself time to reflect, and try to visualise the individual power of being merged into the big wide Universe. Breathe Soham to surrender your day, into the Divine aspect of the forces, which control the circumstances you are to encounter. (Again breath in So & breath out Ham)

You cannot avoid  trying circumstances ahead of you, although you may plan or program to avoid this, and try to have a large say in the life generally.   Worrying will not necessarily change things for the better, but learning to relax, and be meditative, allows you to flow with events that you’re unable to control, and you may find yourself doing things more easily and more smoothly than you’ve even planned! A clear mind is always beneficial in any circumstance, and will often help you to come up with the right answer to problems.

The external world – the natural world – can be seen as energy, or Shakti, which is the Goddess or feminine form of Creation. Creation, as in contrast to the transcendental form of “masculine” energy. It doesn’t have to be seen as separate, nor the Atma as separate from Shakti. Taking this further, all the processes of life can be seen as being part and parcel of our soul work, and we can then also look at meditating on a Trinity of Brahma, Shakti, and Atma. The knowledge of our world, and being able to manage work, money and relationships, will also enable us to have a stronger hold on spiritual practice. When we are moving “expanding” our practice to overtly manage our world for both material and spiritual benefit, we are practicing Tantra, as Tantra means “to expand out”. (Yes, Tantra is not about sex!).

Work for most of us is a perfectly natural function, as we are guided by natural qualities and abilities into doing tasks for which we are most suited. It may seem that we often find ourselves doing something we neither wish to do nor are suited to do, but if we can allow our natural destiny and intrinsic divine nature to predominate, we can move into different spaces of allowing ourselves to find our natural work position. Seen in this light a soldier who fights because he born a warrior type personality, is simply fulfilling his destiny, even though his work may involve killing other humans! He is complying with a subtle set of universal laws that govern all out work.

Such ideas may not appeal to a pacifist, and those who seek to stop war.  A lot of us say we believe in an ideally peaceful world. The historical reality however is that this has not happened, and is not happening tomorrow.  An individual can change society to a degree, but the essential nature of humankind, (and the universe), cannot be changed.  Scientists working on genes may say that, in theory, we could build a non-violent selfless person in the future. However, in reality we will probably want to build something that is more akin to a Hollywood film star, rather than seeking tolerance and love for all! What we can do as individuals, and collectively, is develop our self-awareness and internal happiness to a point where the problems of our own making and our own human nature, can be transcended or accepted as part of our divine journey.

The calmed mind

When there is searching or seeking the journey continues. At some stage you want to be more than a searcher- and be one who has arrived.  When you reach the right place, you don’t need to go further.  Enlightenment is occurring at the same time as the journey is ceasing, when all diversion and digression, and the need to block the mind stops. Simply being is a present and natural state, inherent and always present, always active. A position where all the spiritual, religious, yogic, psychiatric, and personal growth trips and efforts, are cleared. Like a breakthrough of the sun. Even if all of our life, (or lives), may seem to have no real meaning, when achieving this place, one will become truly grateful, and see all that has gone before as the work of the Divine through the human. We don’t need to become enmeshed in our own beliefs or practices from this perspective, as at the end of the day we don’t need the path any more, nor the guru, the teacher, or even a defined God.  The purest elevated form of existence flows into a native state of spiritual enlightenment, otherwise experienced as Existence, Knowledge, Bliss, (Sat-Chit-Ananda).  This position has been known and written about over thousands of years from the time of the ancient sages and is prior to most known established religions.  Nearer in history, if we look closely, it is expounded upon by many religions, albeit it in a variety of words, expressions and philosophy. It may be a “hidden” teaching in many religions other than Hinduism.

There are endless permutations regarding developed codes of religious practice, rituals and rules that are supposed to bestrew some benefit, giving a good credit rating towards the heavenly rewards.  Sometimes this leads to some rejection of human natural activity, such as seeking sex or wealth, even though the very acceptance of the human nature is also connected with Divine awareness. (From a Tantric perspective this is especially true). In the here and now, the individual who is struggling to spiritually succeed, seeks a way which is lit up by the presence and involvement of teachers, sages or gurus. The true guru is the Sat (True) teacher.  The Sat Guru.

You chose or ask for guidance on your journey, and seek it from a human teacher form, (even if not still alive).  This imparter of the teaching or dispeller of darkness may just subtly project Shakti, enabling achievement of the required goal.  For the spiritual seeker the guru is a grace that appears to the degree that the seeker is prepared to surrender to the guidance.  It is a spark of recognition that jumps the gap between the teacher and the follower or disciple, to light up the inner fires.

This following of the teacher or the guru is also part of a way, which is not about following one’s basic desires, but about dealing with one’s basic desires.  Getting past what is binding. The characteristic behavior or activity of an enlightened being, can seem at times very ordinary or normal:  a human who behaves as a human. But the path set down by the teacher, endlessly addresses the problem of trying to get past or out of the human predicament, and the greed, hate, and desires that afflict us.  It is then about accepting human nature and working with one’s problems, continuing to practice, and not giving up on the journey, in spite of lapses or even relapses from the path. There is no forceful asceticism or strident moral posturing, nor religious crusading. It is then the way of accepting the Grace and energy of the enlightened being and simply allowing that to promote one’s own spiritual state until all the searching and seeking fall away.