QUESTION: How to overcome restlessness
of mind?
ANSWER:
Restlessness
of mind is everyone's problem. So, first
of all, you must not feel depressed about it. Let us remember what Arjuna tells
Sri Krishna about mind-control—one can control the
mind by cultivating abhyasa and vairagya (practice and
detachment). Abhyasa means the
practice of control of mind and concentration as well as of other supportive
practices.
QUESTION: What are supportive
practices?
ANSWER:
Sitting
on an Asana (carpet), in a steady posture without moving any part of the
body helps in calming the mind. Also practice of rhythmic breathing regularly
helps in the control of the mind. In the Yogasutras of Patanjali,
various rules and regulations as well as moral and ethical values have been
described. Practice of these also helps in
calming the restless mind. One should try to focus one's attention on
God as sitting within. One can also repeat the Name of God which helps in
calming and purifying the mind. Besides this, whatever you do—playing, reading,
listening, washing, anything—do it with full concentration. All these help in
controlling the mind.
QUESTION: How to know that we are
progressing in spiritual life?
ANSWER:
There
are different signs of progress in different stages of spiritual life. Let us
discuss here only the signs of progress in earlier stages in which most of us
are.
The first sign is that
we start getting more and more interested in spiritual matters. We then like to
visit Ashramas, read spiritual books, biographies of saints and sages. Second,
we become more sensitive towards our evil tendencies and start disliking them
and earnestly want to get rid of them. Third, our attachment to
the worldly things, people and activities gets reduced. In early stages, while
meditating, we may not get satisfactory results. In fact, often the mind
becomes all the more restless as the
evil tendencies hidden in the subconscious mind are stirred up due to
meditation. However, as we persevere in meditation, mind gradually becomes calm
and starts getting joy. Its effect is seen in our character also. We become
more peaceful, less excited or irritated and lust and greed also becomes less.
QUESTION: What is Bhakti?
ANSWER: There are two types
of Bhakti: Vaidhi Bhakti and Para Bhakti. Doing
Bhajan, Kirtan, repeating a specific number of Japa, ritualistic worship and so
on come under the category of Vaidhi (from Vidhi, rules) Bhakti. When one
follows these rules, one develops love for God. Then one loves Him as one's
near and dear one, and then one enters the realm of Para Bhakti.
An aspirant thus proceeds from Vaidhi Bhakti to Para Bhakti. The methods of
Vaidhi Bhakti are means for concentrating the mind on God. In Para Bhakti one
loves God without effort