What does one do with old redundant files in the office? Shredding and junking? Isn’t it? The mind space needs decluttering on a daily basis if one wants to remain cheerful and face each day with space and light. Thought is a flow. Known as Vritti (that which moves).
Thought is conditioned by old experiences that have solidified as memories. They occupy and stuff your inner space, but only if you allow it. Old files collect dust, the papers are yellowed and sometimes moth-eaten as well, but you still keep hoarding them. With old memories we harden our attitudes towards people for a lifetime. Whereas, not only that the human being you hated has changed but even your mind has changed. We continue to bottle up old negative emotions as though they were treasures in the mental locker.
It is psychologically true that emotions are fluid and if you store them, they will stink as stagnant water. Negative emotions must be thrown out and the fresh air of new positive emotions find a clean housing. Delete the old memory files of unpleasant happenings and relationships, clear out the stuff of hardened attitudes, something which hurt you, long back. Think, the only reality it has is in your old memory file. Forgive and forget. The only real forgiveness is if you have totally forgotten about it. The truth is that if you still talk about it, the happening has not forgiven you. You are carrying the old stinking file on your head, and are complaining about the stink.
There is no such thing as the Mind. Think. Where is it in deep sleep? What does it look like? Has it a moustache? Is it brown or white? Tall or short, broad, slim or fat? Yet, you yourself muscle it into a monster that can destroy you. Let go, let go, live fresh and young every single day’s beauty.
Prarthna Saran, President Chinmaya Mission