Swami Aparajitanandaji's Lecture on "Winning evil mind"

On day-3 of Balavihar Summer Camp, Acharya spoke on "Winning Evil Mind", where he spoke about three topics 'Protecting the mind', 'The ladder of fall' and 'Recovering from fall'

I . Protecting the mind

    Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 3; Verse: 42

    indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ

    manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

 
  They say that the senses are superior (to the body); superior to the senses is the mind; superior to the mind is the intellect; one who is even superior  to the intellect is he, (the Atman).

    i.e Higher than the sense organs is the mind, Higher than the mind is intellect and Higher than the intellect is supreme power.  

   Swamiji spoke on the 5 sense objects through which we gain knowledge from the external world.

1. Shabda - ears
2. Sparsha - skin 
3. Roopa - eyes
4. Rasa - taste 
5. Gandha - nose

    Note that ears, nose, eyes, tongue and nose are called sense objects and sense organs are higher compared to sense objects.
     He explained the 3 levels of protection along with real life examples.

• Never expose yourself to anything that would pollute your mind.
• Even when you are exposed to bad situation, show disinterest.
• If you are affected by bad thoughts, listen to your intellect over the mind to win over the bad thoughts.

          Mind vs Intellect: 

• Mind is the faculty / instrument in us which takes decisions based on likes & dislikes
• Intellect is the faculty in us which takes decisions based on right & wrong.
• Example: A very good chance for you to steal the question paper lying unprotected for the toughest exam coming-up. 
• Mind will tell you to take the question paper to prepare & get good marks. But the intellect will alert you to stay on the righteous path even at the cost of lesser marks.
• Mind will give shortcut to success but cannot give sustained / permanent success.
• So, whom should you listen - mind or intellect?
  Yes, go by the intellect to be on the righteous path.
• Points to ponder:Anything that you listen to often will become dormant, so always go by intellect. Eventually mind & intellect becomes one & you will love doing only the right thing and such a person whose mind & intellect goes hand in hand is called integrated personality.
• Example:
  If you want to get up in the morning, mind will say no & intellect will say yes.
• If you hold onto the omnipresent almighty, who is ever ready to protect & empower you, your intellect will be able to win over mind.

II. The ladder of fall

      Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 2; Verse: 62, 63

      dhyāyato viṣhayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣhūpajāyate

      saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate

   
When a man thinks of objects, attachment for them arises; from attachment desire is born; from desire arises anger...

   
    krodhādbhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ

    smṛiti-bhranśhād buddhi-nāśho buddhi-nāśhāt praṇaśhyati

From anger comes delusion; from delusion, loss of memory; from loss of memory, the destruction of discrimination; from the destruction of discrimination, he perishes.

     Swamiji detailed the steps for the ladder of fall; as always with child- centric examples 

• Vishaya Dhyanam - Thinking of sense objects
• Sanga - desire
• Kama - intense craving
• Krodha - Anger
• Sammoha - delusion (you see what you don't see)
• Smriti Vibhrama -  loss of memory
• Buddhi Nasha- Inability to think
• Sarva Nasha(Pranaasha) - Total destruction 

     Example: 

• Vishaya Dhyanam: A child, who was addicted to video game on tablet, was studying for his exams.
• Sanga: I like this; let me play for some time.
• Kama: This simple `like` became intense craving, he started playing.
• Krodha: Mother came in, was angry with the child's action and scolded.
• Sammoha: From the child's point of view the mother became the enemy of the child.
• Smriti Vibhrama: The boy has forgotten all the good mom have done.
• Buddhi Nasha: He was unable to think beyond the situation.
• Sarva Nasha: And out of anger threw the tablet onto mom with full force, mom got hurt and it started bleeding & was admitted to hospital.
  
  Observe the downfall of the child and how a simple `like` got intensified.
  Whenever there is an addiction, you cannot do anything but get angry. If you re getting angry on something, you might be attached or addicted to something. Look back & check what is that you are attached to.

III. Recovering from the fall      

      As the life falls through, it becomes more & more difficult, So one should correct at the very initial stage
      Swamiji spoke on 5 point technique to overcome the fall

• Observe the thoughts
• Detect the negative
• Eliminate the negative
• Substitute with positive
• Strengthen the mind with repeated substitution

      Let's start relating with the example of a child reading for the exam, intend to play with tab, which lead to his fall.
      Once the right thinking becomes way of life, then there is no struggle because you will enjoy doing the right thing. Later Success becomes the natural fact.

Assignment for Children:

     The ladder of fall leading to a total destruction with a personal life example (that can be shared). Add the corrective action to the above assignment.