Verse-26
Chapter 6 — Atma Sanyam Yoga
Verse 26
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
yato yato niścalati manaścañcalamasthiram
tatastato niyamyaitad ātmanyeva vaśaṁ nayet
🕉 English Translation
Chanchal hai mann jo na tikta kahin,
Chintan kare yeh toh vishayon ka hee.
Jahan jaye useseh hata kar ise,
Parmatma mein lagataa rahe,
📜 Translation
English
This unsteady and restless mind due to sensual objects like sound, etc. wanders in the world; from the same sensual objects it should be restrained and time and again should be made to concentrate on the Lord.
One thing must be understood at the inception that the mind by just practicising for a day will not attain the state of 'na kinchdapi chinteyet' Think! How many years have been spent in this life in the entanglement in this material world? The same propensities...same circumstances...and subjection to the same things! This is something which can be directly seen. One is ignorant about the number of births which have been spent in this entanglement. Whenever you commence the practice of meditation, the possibilities of the mind to wander here and there will be present always. Instability and restlessness is the outcome of worldly influence. Do not worry about it. Do not become dejected on seeing all this. Keep this infallible inspiration from the Gita in front of yourself:
Wherever the mind wanders, bring it back from there and make it dwell in the Lord. Keep some positive thoughts in the mind. Whatever the mind is deliberating upon, tell the mind that nothing exists without the power of the Lord. To whatever circumstance the mind is drawn, show to it to be the play of the Lord. This is all the sportive play of the Lord. O mind of mine! If the mind is drawn to any object, see in it, the grace of the Lord. He is the giver; not towards objects my mind should be drawn! Who has blessed us with this, you should remember Him only! If the mind is attracted by the beauty of the form and relation then show the mind the presence of divine consciousness in it. There can be no beauty without the presence of the Lord. The dearness in the relationship is also due to Him. One should give the mind such a thought to dwell on at that moment. Become the tutor of your own mind. Develop the habit of talking straightforwardly to your mind. Just a little bit of caution and things will work out.
Sometimes one can take the support of the recitation of mantras. To take the mind away from useless thoughts there should be inside a silent recitation of mantras. The practice of the recitation of mantras can become a good support. If during the meditation on God with form and attributes, the need arises to open the eyes one can do so. If the form of the worshipped one is in front of us; for a moment, gaze at it without batting the eyelids; make it dwell in the mind through the eyes. Then immerse yourself in His thoughts. This verse of the Gita is an unfailing guiding light in the initial discipline of meditation. On this issue, also keep deliberating in this manner and keep moving ahead in this 6th chapter of this yoga of self-discipline with the marvelous inspirations for meditation: