Simon

It’s only when the mind relaxes that we get that happiness, peace and a moment to enjoy. If the mind stops on a flower, thinking, “Oh how beautiful it is”, then temporarily we enjoy it. How does that happen? The mind stops on that object for a fraction of a moment. When it stops, we start thinking it is the object that has given us the happiness whereas in actual fact it is because the mind has become quiet. It is not into cravings, nor any analysations of ‘Is it good? Do I like it?’ For that moment, simply it is quiet.

So this is a clue into how we can achieve that real peace and happiness for ourselves. All objects in the world are impermanent, they come and they go, so we cannot depend on them for a permanent happiness.

As Meditation Master Shiva Rudra Balayogi advises, “You try to possess things, you try to visualise things to enjoy, to be happy. But instead of this, if you practice meditation, when you are trying to get the mind itself to become quiet, then that peace and happiness is always there, because the mind’s very nature is to be at peace.”

Meditation Master Babaji (Shiva Rudra Balayogi) says, ‘As the existence of the Supreme Consciousness is boundless, never-ending, its capability for creative imagination and illusion also are boundless and can be never-ending if allowed to grow. Just like if the elements like fire, wind or water flow go out of control, they can be so dangerous and destructive. The human mind’s imagination has both constructive and destructive powers. Proper thinking through consciousness is very important. Just see the achievements of humanity.

If consciousness is not applied properly and constructively anything can be equally destructive to humanity. That is why it is important that science, technology and all such subjects through which we are achieving so much, must go together with spirituality. The simple reason is that after all it is the human mind which has to use all the achievements. If such a mind is not cultured properly and made to think for the welfare of the entire world it can become destructive.’

Through a regular meditation practice we can purify the mind, make it peaceful and not let it go into negative and destructive thinking. Thinking and acting for the benefit of the whole society and world would become possible.

The mind at the moment is a bundle of thoughts. One thought after another arises, it seems to be never-ending. And since our mind is preoccupied with these thoughts all the time, it is unable to be aware of itself as Pure Consciousness. Through regular practice of meditation as the thoughts start to become purified, the mind becomes more and more peaceful. It returns to the original state of Pure Consciousness and settles there contented. The Self-Realized Master Babaji explains this in detail.

‘What is this mind? Can you show it to anybody, do you know the form? What it is, what is its formation, what is its color, what is the substance? Simply we know the thoughts that are in the mind, the shapes, the ideas, the labels that are in the mind, of good or bad, right or wrong about this world, and about the imaginations that we have a separate world that we would have built up. But nobody has seen the mind as it is. When the mind would not be into any imaginations, what is it? That is the substance mass of a Pure Consciousness and Energy. When it is pure, it is simply Purely Consciousness Energy of Existence. But, when it becomes impure with its own dirt and imagination effects and getting conditioned, it is unable to know about itself, it is unable to watch itself that it is a Pure Consciousness. A Pure Consciousness would have become impure thoughts and wrong habits.

And thus, long time has passed by, we don’t know, time immemorial mind has become habitual. The mind is the Pure Consciousness. Eventually if we are able to cleanse this mind, then we realize that we ourselves are that Supreme Consciousness of Existence, we are that purest form. We have become the mind, actually. Mind is nothing but us. That Consciousness is nothing but us. When we become aware that we are that purest form of existence, that awareness, when that happens, it settles there, that awareness. That is Supremely Peaceful, that is Immortal in Existence, Eternal, at all times. Supremely Peaceful, that is needed, and it can remain contented there. Because that formation does not require anything for its own existence. So that is what one can achieve, that is what is recommended.’

~Shiva Rudra Balayogi

Please click here to hear the full audio.

In life we may have to deal with difficult situations and people.
At all such times, how do we defend ourselves? How do we remain unaffected mentally if not physically? First it is important that mentally we are strong, have strong willpower and keep the mind away from such things. Although physically it may not be possible to run away from the situation, what is recommended is to remain unattached mentally.

For this, Babaji’s Master Swamiji gave the example of the tongue in the midst of thirty-two teeth.

The tongue cannot run away, it has to be there. To move in the midst of all the teeth it has to be very skillful so that is doesn’t get bitten by the teeth. It moves in-between, goes up and comes down yet remains detached. If anything is tasty it sends it inside. If it is not it makes you spit it out. As it does so it remains detached, it doesn’t take anything for itself. It simply does its job. In this way also we may need to live in this world.

That is the recommendation given by the great Masters. If we can face the moment, keep doing our duty without getting affected mentally, then we can live a peaceful and contented life. For this, meditation is the daily practice which trains our mind to remain concentrated and at peace. We would be able to face the moment but also restrain ourselves and not get emotionally affected. As the Masters have shown, with a dedicated practice a stress-free life can become possible.

By adopting a habit of sitting down to meditate and keeping quiet mentally, we can overcome the habits of the mind to be restless and run away.

Here is an answer that the Meditation Master Shiva Rudra Balayogi gave during one of the live Zoom Q+As that have been taking place every Saturday online.

Question: How do I maintain focus for a longer duration while meditating?

Babaji:

More practice is required. When you sit down for meditation, relax, be at peace, forget the outside world. At the time of meditation all you have to do is keep quiet mentally – remind yourself of this point. There is nothing else for you to attend. If there is any problem, any other needs in the world, you can attend after the meditation. Like this, when you feel determined and just watch again it’s like a dual battle – mind runs and you try to bring it back just by watching, watching, watching. By consistent practice; practice is the thing which can make you perfect. That is the only way really that one has to understand. By being habitual. Now the mind has acquired habits to run away, so you have to acquire habits to make it remain quiet and remain focused.

Watch the full video of this Q+A on YouTube. https://youtu.be/0S8eXQta734

When we are narrow-minded, we only think about our needs and what affects us. We don’t bother about how our actions or words might affect others. But when our awareness expands we become broad-minded. We start to think of a larger cause; how our actions can affect the country, the society, the whole world. A maturity is cultivated in the mind and our ego becomes less and less.

As Babaji says, ‘If the mind is in equilibrium, then always your actions will be for a larger cause.’

So our mind needs to be under our control, stabilized, in equilibrium. This can be achieved gradually as we practise meditation regularly. Instead of jumping into selfish needs without the ability to restrain oneself, we can become mature. We will be able to listen to others, be aware of other’s needs and always think of a larger cause – harmony and peace for all.

Everything in this whole creation is impermanent. The sun, the stars, this planet, our own physical body. An object has come into existence and one day it will perish. Is there anything that is not impermanent, which will exist at all times, no matter what happens to it?

This is what the great ancient sages of India pondered. Just like when we go to a doctor, we would not be satisfied with a temporary cure, we would want a permanent cure.
They wanted to know the reality, that peace which is there at all times.

So they looked within. They discovered that in fact the peace and happiness which we are looking for everywhere in the world is actually within us. For a permanent happiness we cannot depend on something which is impermanent. When the mind becomes quiet by itself it experiences the best peace and happiness, because that happiness doesn’t depend on anything.

As we meditate, our mind becomes more and more peaceful whilst living in this impermanent world. While we can enjoy whatever comes our way, we can understand its impermanence and maintain our peace even when that thing inevitably disappears.

There are three responsibilities in life – physical health, mental health and moral health.

We all know the importance of keeping our physical body as healthy as possible. We know we need to eat the right food, do sufficient exercise, etc., otherwise our body can become unhealthy and give us pain and suffering.

Equally as important but often neglected is our mental health. As Babaji says, mental health means being in control of your mind. You should be able to think when you want to think, and when you don’t want to think you should be able to keep the mind quiet.

A lot of the time the mind tends to go into worries and cravings. It becomes weak and easily affected. A strong mind would mean we can maintain our peace and composure even in a difficult situation. If we can restrain ourselves and be mature in how we think and act without thinking negatively then we can say our mind is healthy.

When our mind is healthy, we can exercise the third responsibility, moral health. The word ‘moral’ here simply means consideration for others. We would not like to harm others in what we say or do. We would realise that just like we want to be happy, others would equally want to be happy also. We would not like to disturb that happiness. We would want to make decisions to help a larger group of people, a larger cause, not just for our own selfish needs.

So all these three responsibilities can be fulfilled with a regular meditation practice. As we go on meditating, the mind is purified of its habits to think constantly and go into worries and cravings. It starts to become healthy and we start to regain and maintain that peace within ourselves.

The state of our mind is so important. No matter what others may think about us, actually what really matters is if our mind is at peace or not. If it is at peace, then there is nothing for us to worry about at all.

A Master goes beyond all such judgements and remains at peace. Whether they are praised or criticized does not affect them They are secure in the knowledge that they have realized the ultimate truth of their own existence.

There is a story about the Buddha which shows the state of composure of a true Master.

Once a man came to where Buddha was giving a programme and started shouting and hurling abuse at the Buddha.

The Buddha remained unaffected. He waited until the man had finished shouting.
Calmly He asked him, ‘If someone gave you something you didn’t want, what would you do?’ Slightly taken back by this question, the man replied, ‘I wouldn’t accept it, of course’.
‘Well, I don’t need your insults and abuse, please kindly take them back’.

This shows the level of composure and maturity of a Master. Unmoved by any difficult situation or what others think of them they can respond in a calm and rational way without losing the control of their mind. As Babaji says, ‘How someone else behaves shows their character and culture. We should not become a victim to that’.

This is possible through meditation as we go on practising day by day. We get the upper hand of the mind. The mind becomes stronger, more resilient, and also able to become less narrow-minded and self-centred. It can think of others, and a larger cause. It can keep its peace intact and not go into unnecessary worries and cravings. Finally we can achieve that security of the real Self.

When the mind starts to become more and more quiet in meditation, thoughts of needing this or that subside – it becomes composed and settled in itself. Your mind becomes under your control.

The mind is our conscious energy, meaning whatever we apply the mind to we become aware of. If the mind starts to be aware of itself only then it settles down and becomes composed. Then the peace comes. This the great masters realized was the true Self, who we really are – all imaginations subsided and they settled into that state effortlessly at all times.

If we can practice meditation every day our mind becomes concentrated and is able to gradually settle. We can cool the mind down from being like a red-hot iron ​and make better decisions and judgements in our daily lives. We can become its master and achieve that peace and contentment which we are all looking for deep down.