What is the Mind? – III

If you observe your mind, you will see that it experiences these three moods in varying degrees throughout the day. However, the dominant mood depends on your predisposition, or what your personality is like. Thus, your character is a reflection of the quality of your mind.A predominantly rajasika or tamasika mind is a very powerful enemy that cannot be overcome by force. So, when the enemy seems invincible, brutal strength should be replaced with careful and calculated strategy; otherwise, it would be like trying to control a raging river by simply building a dam. The mind has been fittingly compared to an agitated, opium-drunk monkey, bitten by bees, with his tail on fire, swinging from branch to branch. If you cage such a monkey, it will thrash around, bang the cage bars and cause complete mayhem, to say the least.Accordingly, Arjuna had strong reservations about the possibility of mastering the mind. In fact, he opined to Karna that it was impossible. The Lord assured him that while it was difficult, it was not unattainable; the mind simply has to be conquered with prudent tactics. The first step is to study, analyse and understand the enemy. Most people exercise control by suppressing the mind, not by sublimating it. Such a forcefully controlled mind remains disciplined for some time, but the moment it finds a weakness somewhere, it again attempts to break free, shatters every restraint, and runs wilder than before. This is why the great preceptors of self-mastery advised against suppression of the mind; instead, they encouraged taming the mind, with good sense and strategy.