This was a question and answer session with Gurudev, Swami Chinmayanandaji, on 16.5.1984, in Siddhabari as he sat informally outside the old Satsang hall in the evenings. We all gathered around him to ask him for guidance on how to calm the mind. These are excerpts from my notes. Fortunate to still have them. I produce them as I wrote them then.
Swamiji began answering in his characteristic humorous style. He began, “Never ask a sanyasi what he thinks of this and that, you are giving him a full chit to bluff you. Ask only “What does the Shastra say?”
Q: Swamiji, what is the mind?
A: Mind is thought flow. What you are, depends on the quality of this thought flow, because thoughts crystallise as desires, and desires finally manifest as actions. As you think so you become. There are ways of controlling the mind and gaining complete mastery over it. The thoughts should be trained to be pure. We should also control the quantity of thoughts. Thoughts rushing one upon another is a mind agitated. Calm down the thought flow, let it flow gently. Lastly, dam the flow.
Learn to hold or release the thoughts according to your will. The three ways of controlling the mind are: 1) Quality, 2) Quantity, 3) Damming it. The equipment is the same, but just the quality of thoughts makes one a saint or a first rate rascal, a noble or a bad man. So, control the mind. Don’t let it make you dance. Let it dance to your tune.
Q: How does one calm the mind?
A: Don’t try to quieten the mind with the mind. The controller must be different from the controlled. Hence the importance of an Idol. Humble yourself, surrender to Him and ask for His help to control your mind. It will become quiet. This is the importance of the Ishta (personalised God).
* Prarthna Saran is President, Chinmaya Mission, Delhi.