Joy Of Mindfulness First, Straighten The Mind, Then Meditate

Talk & Practice.

MINDFULNESS. Joy Of Mindfulness First, Straighten The Mind, Then Meditate. Learn simple and easy steps to relax within few minutes. Educate and empower your mind to induce relaxation anytime and anywhere within a few minutes. How does the program work? The program is experiential learning, engages participants to acquire knowledge of the principles of eastern wisdom, followed by small and easy practice, sharing of experiences.

Transcript

Home and the real home is our real self.

That is how beautifully one master and my master also used to explain.

See that home of his body,

Physical body,

Is the physical home and home of the sense organ is the right perception free from likes and dislikes.

You see someone and eyes do not say anything but the mind says I don't like this person.

So it means it is no fault of the eyes.

You hear a particular song and the mind says I don't want to hear.

So how long you can plug off your ears?

Ears are open.

All the sense organs give us the knowledge of the senses.

Knowledge of the objects outside.

Isn't it?

But still the mind interferes.

The mind interferes and dictates the sense organs and that disturbs the calmness and the peace of the mind.

My master used to say that you envy someone,

You hate someone,

That guy is sleeping soundly and you are always disturbed.

You are thinking about that guy.

You see how systematically our masters teaches.

So the home of the physical body is the physical home.

Home of the sense organ is right perception.

Eyes are meant to see the form.

So let me see the form.

Here is Anne,

Here is Sophie,

Here is John,

Here is Lisa,

Here is Bhavya.

So first perception should be clear.

What is that?

Bhavya?

Daughter?

No.

First Bhavya is a human being,

Anne is a human being,

John is a human being.

So when we have that perception which also known as the pure mind,

That pure mind sits in his home.

So what is the home of the mind?

The natural state of the mind is calmness.

Natural state.

Natural state of the mind is calmness.

Then comes the intellect.

The real home of the intellect is the wisdom.

What is that wisdom?

Wisdom comes from viveka.

Wisdom means I know what is real and what is unreal.

The intellect is aware at every moment what is real and what is unreal.

And once sense organ are functioning naturally,

When body is seems to be steady,

Then mind is calm and pure.

Intellect is aware of the real versus the unreal.

You are in a state of mindfulness or meditation 24 by 7.

Finished.

That is why we say mind is,

That is why we say what we say?

We say that meditation or mindfulness is effortless.

It is natural.

It is not a practice.

It is a state of consciousness.

You know intellect,

Mind,

Intellect is deepest.

Before that there is also an ego sense.

We can say if the ego,

If our ego sits in the real self,

Ego sits in the real self,

Then what happened?

Then we are awakened.

So the nearest is ego,

Then intellect,

Then mind,

Then mind and sense organ and ultimately then the physical body.

Consider all these layers as different colors,

Glasses,

And at the center there is a bright white real self.

When the real self passes through the ego,

It blocks some light,

It colors second coloring through the intellect if the wisdom is not there.

Third coloring through the mind which is not calm,

Full of impurities,

Anger,

Hesitation,

Anxiety,

Duality,

Etc.

Etc.

Then sense organ does not have a right perception.

Then the body continues to visit and then I see a particular person thing in the world.

It means the mind is not straightened.

Buddha says straighten the mind then meditate.

Why he says first straighten the mind.

So he says all experiences takes place in the mind,

Hence the sense organ has a wrong perception,

The mind is crooked and then intellect is dictated by the mind.

Ego says this,

Ego claims the wrong notion is right.

So he summed up first straighten the mind and then meditate.

Now see another reason why we don't succeed in meditation because we do not straighten the mind.

But in every meditation the goal should be clear and the goal is chosen,

Understood,

Known by the intellect.

Say you sit in a train,

You have that and the conductor comes and he says,

Oh do you have ticket?

No,

No,

I'll buy the ticket.

Conductor asks you which station you will leave,

Forget about the station,

Give me the ticket.

So that is what we think for meditation.

If the goal is not clear the mind will activate its duality,

Conflict,

Anger,

Hesitation,

Past impression and then we cannot reach to the goal.

So our goal should be clear what is departure point and what is arrival point.

This is our second problem comes to the mind when we are not clear why we are doing meditation and mindfulness.

The ultimate goal of meditation is to find my real self,

To discover that pure consciousness that transcends,

That transcends all the challenges posed by the mind.

But we should also be very clear about that real self.

So now what the Buddha says,

As a Fletcher straightens the arrow so the man of understanding makes straight the trembling unsteady mind which is difficult to guard,

Difficult to restrain,

Then only one is able to succeed,

One succeeds in meditation.

What he is pointing that we should become a seeker.

Now if you become a seeker you have a faith plus knowledge both are there.

Knowledge is clear that I have a house in Arizona and then you've flown from New Jersey to Arizona and then at the same time with that reasoning you had the faith and that faith and the reason together it brought you here.

See everything is so simple my friend.

So once we apply the reason there is a clarity,

There is a conviction and after that the intellect that knowledge must come down to the heart means now I am very clear I should have a faith that there is a real self.

Mind says forget about it you know who lives in permanent happiness mind creates doubt.

Intellect says no I have clearly understood there is a clarity allow the intellect to inspire the heart and when you inspire the heart it becomes the faith.

So the faith and the reason should go together to straighten the mind and then you meditate only one session is required.

I'm deviating from a topic little bit but that deviation sometime helps us to understand also.

What is that understanding?

Say you have succeeded in meditation what is going to happen you wake up in the morning and the knowledge reveals in the mind.

You need not to do anything.

The knowledge reveals in the mind problem is there you sit in meditation the solution reveals in the mind and that knowledge continues to reveal in the mind finding the solution of the challenges of the day-to-day life.

That is why you see these monks are always smiling even they have lot of challenges in their life.

So it is then what happens then it continues to keep the sense to organ to function with the right perception mind with the purity intellect with the wisdom and then we succeed in meditation.

That is why Buddha says as if flat sure straightens the arrow.

You might have seen arrow in the bow so in ancient time the arrow is made from the stem of a tree so they used to cut and they used to make the arrow straight so they are there is a simile they said first the purification of the mind so they compare the arrow in making with a crooked mind with the mind with the impurity it has to be made straight means the purification of the mind is necessary.

Why?

Because you gain the natural focus because now the good rule is clear now the mind is not running after the dualities of pain and the pleasure it is seeking only the pure consciousness.

So Dhammapada is one of the best book written by as it is known it is written by our master Buddha in which he says straighten the mind how flat sure straightens the stick and makes an arrow.

That is a prerequisite for any meditation it means I have to think of it I have to contemplate I have to reflect on it.

What we are contemplating every day?

I have lot of problem I have lot of challenges we dig deep inside our mind that knows lot of challenges from the past and we constantly think of it if we do not start thinking and contemplating the mind does not become straight.

You see that the stick is cut,

Refined.

Similarly the mind should also be educated to accept what is desired and what is not desired.

Pain is desired?

No.

Should I react to that person?

No.

Should I have an anxiety?

No.

So when we constantly guard our mind now so then what happens so when who says no?

Intellect.

When the mind says oh I hate this guy the intellect also agrees with it we are gone.

My master used to say always before I create a hatred first I have to give birth of a hatred and we reaction anxiety in my heart first and then I express the same outside.

So when we cut that refine that by contemplation and reflecting on it the mind becomes straight.

That straight mind is ready to meditate.

So you see the beautiful not a verse but it is a statement Buddha has written as a Fletcher straightens the arrow so he compares the arrow with the mind so the man of understanding means I have to think and contemplate.

Same principles everywhere.

Understanding man of understanding makes straight the trembling unsteady mind.

Why?

How the mind trembles when I'm in anxiety when I have duality when I have conflict when the mind lives in natural state.

Let me let us live it which is difficult to guard and difficult to restrain but not impossible.

Buddha says it is not impossible it is difficult it comes step by step when we continue the journey as a Fletcher so the Fletcher knows how to make an arrow from the stem so a seeker knows how to take care of the mind so the Fletcher is compared to a person who is a seeker and the seeker knows this is the right goal this is what I have to do a mind starts becoming upset and then you allow you invoke the intellect why I am upset because of anything outside in the world?

Hold on.

Drop all the thoughts see the calmness of the mind ask the mind to go to your home calmness ask the sense organs drop the likes and dislikes so the mind withdraws the sense organs withdraws its sight.

I remember one thing beautiful then we will start our practice.

In one of the Upanishads one master says when the object merges into the sense organ any object I know this person and I dislike forget about disliking and liking that person's image is absorbed in the sense organ the sense organ is merged into the mind mind merges into the intellect intellect merges into the ego sense and the ego merges into the real self we are already in the state of meditation but we have to find out how that object merges into the sense organ if we have likes and dislikes can that object merge into the sense organ no drop it so with that likes and dislikes the mind creates an attachment and detachment and that creates a delusion so how the sense organ will merge into the mind when the mind is free from attachment and detachment simple and how the mind will absorb into the intellect if the intellect follows and understands and is aware of what is real and unreal and when the intellect merges into the sense organ not to the into the ego when the intellect wisdom tells me that ego is a delusion what is left only one thing is left that is real self am I too complex or easy talk about it eyes are closed eyes are closed let us prepare the body first the outermost body preparing the body and the mind so what we do find out the most comfortable position of your body most comfortable position of the body sitting or lying down but maintaining your awareness and mind is facing within then being comfortable so let us pick up being comfortable at three level that is how the meditation works sometimes we miss the point intellectually we think oh I know what is being come up with experience so move the mind on the neck joint neck joint is physical object organ we are there who is their mind so what mind feels the sensation being comfortable and steadiness do you experience that it is important so when you experience sensation being comfortable and steadiness then what then keep looking inside so what will happen the mind will move inside leaving all its craziness and laziness outside that is the real meaning of being comfortable now we have been I have been repeating being comfortable again and again but now today we are going little deeper so look at the shoulder joints shoulder joint yes be there so it's a physical object it's a physical so we move to the subtler level what is that subtler level we experience sensation being comfortable and steadiness you see it's at a very subtler level I don't talk about that how we move at the subtler level but I'm talking here so move the mind on the hip joint be there you're there yes feel the sensation being comfortable and steadiness so this is the second level from the physical we move to an experiential level see that very good and now after moving to the experience cell level when the mind is the seeker it continues to look inside oh it continues to look inside so let me also look inside in the space and when the mind enjoys living into that space beyond the parts of the body the joints of the body what is happening you are moving into meditation but if the mind after experiencing sensation relaxate being comfortable and steadiness it instantly moves out oh I have lot of things to do as in so that is what is known as it is known as distraction of the mind mind falls into laziness what that known as it known as forgetfulness and mind continues to think a lot of stuff that is what the mind is known as wandering so wandering mind forgetfulness mind and distracted mind cannot succeed in meditation so what happened as the Fletcher straightens the arrow so that example demands lot of effort to cut the stem and make it straight but here we simply need an awareness asking the mind come on where are you looking you are meditating you have to look inside and the mind leaves all that so become aware of the entire body become aware of the entire body from the top to the tools all the joints of the body and feel sensation being comfortable and steadiness how simple it is now being carefree so in being carefree also we what we do we separate ourselves through the intellect through the wisdom what is that we separate ourselves from that causes the mind to move to the unreal what is that my nose thought has come feeling his come image has come distraction has come you simply separate from your from what is coming to the mind how we separate from the traffic on the road we watch them we see them separate standing across the road so what that means when any thought comes you become the newer and the seer of the thought don't get attached to the thought so it is simply a matter of awareness but if the matter if the awareness is not free from attachment likes and dislikes then what happens then the mind dictates the intellect intellect loses the wisdom and we are carried away by these thoughts so in the state of sensation being comfortable and steadiness mind keeps looking within and any experience that is taking place in the mind you just become the knower of that experience you are already a knower we have to just become aware of it aware that I am here thought is there the way I am here and the the way the sky is all pervading and the birds are flying I am the sky all pervading and the birds are flying the way are the waves are rising and falling and I am still the water that is the meaning of being carefree so we have experienced many times either the mind continues to be distracted and that causes a sense of upset or the mind becomes lazy so to get rid of these two factors in the mind we purify the mind by quick short and the gentle breath so simply looking inside the rib cage in the space and start reading quick short in the gentle breath continue reading quick short in the gentle breath to to trim the mind from laziness and from distraction and stop this do nothing just become aware are you more comfortable look at the entire body and experience and experience sensation being comfortable and steadiness you will feel that and then just look inside and be carefree what is being carefree you already know so you see that so it means our goal of doing just short and gentle quick breath is to is to move the mind to a focused naturally focused state now we have to maintain awareness so you see that is why in order to maintain awareness the sound helps and if the sound does work for us for our mind to remain on the sound itself and it does not leave that so it gives a kind of harmony and a balance in the mind a calmness in the mind so take a deep silent and slow breathing first you raise your awareness about the breath first you inhale into the valley then you inhale into the rib cage up to the throat and while breathing out make the humming sound louder deeper and longer you you continue you you you you And.

.

.

Mmmmmmmmmm.

And stop this.

We will continue to purify the mind,

The deep silent and slow breathing.

Start with that now.

Very gentle,

Soft.

You inhale first into the belly.

Watch,

Feel the belly rises as you are practicing while lying down.

And then see the rib cage expands while breathing out.

First bring the belly down and then the rib cage is down.

Continue deep silent and slow breathing and check there is no effort at all.

Yes,

It is natural.

It is deep,

It is silent,

It is slow.

Why I gave you three active steps to prevent falling into mind,

Falling into laziness.

So we remain aware and alert and maintain that rhythm of the practice.

Yes.

It is deep,

It is silent,

It is slow.

It is deep,

It is slow.

It is silent,

It is slow breathing.

Because why?

Because body is steady.

So we release the inner seed,

The prana from the body to maintain the steadiness.

How when we start breathing deep,

Silent and slow?

The mind cannot trigger the body to be upset,

To fizz it,

But to maintain steadiness.

And when we are breathing deep,

Silent and slow,

The mind is absorbed into the energy.

So we have a simple principle.

Chale vate chalam chittam neschale neschalam bhavate Yogi sthanuktam apanoti tato vayun nirodhait You consciously,

Gently regulate the breathing,

The mind is naturally purified.

When you regulate the mind,

We means withdraw the mind inside,

The breath is also becomes smooth,

Slow,

Deep.

So the breath influences the mind and the mind influences the breath.

Now,

Leave this deep,

Silent and slow breathing.

Let us go to the next step.

Next step is all about passive step.

Look at the head and the neck,

Become aware of the head and the neck all around.

Be there and experience sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

So move the mind on the right arm as if the mind is touching every skin of the every cell of the skin of the right arm.

Be there and feel sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

The mind goes to the left arm,

Just be there and experience sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

Move the mind on the ribcage,

Be there,

Feel the sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

Next step.

The mind,

Move the mind on the belly,

Be there,

Feel the sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

The mind,

Look at the right leg,

Sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

Move the mind on the left leg and feel the sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

The entire body,

Feel the sensation,

Relaxation and stillness.

Check,

Is the body steady and still?

Very good.

Are the senses still creating an image of any object or thing or people?

No.

The mind is calm,

Good living within and we are aware.

In that awareness,

Look at the breath,

The breath going in and out,

Feeling the sensation,

Breath going out,

Breath coming in.

One point of awareness,

Second point of awareness,

The breath is feeling the sensation and third point,

No change in the rate and the rhythm of the breath.

So that helps us to awaken to the reality.

The mind is calm,

Good living within and we are aware.

The mind is calm,

Good living within and we are aware.

I know your pain.

I know your pain.

I know your pain.

I know your pain.

I'm doing nothing.

Remain as you are.

I'm doing nothing.

I'm doing nothing.

I'm doing nothing.

Shanti,

Shanti,

Shanti.

This is our chanting before we return from a meditation.

Shanti,

Shanti,

Shanti.

Open your eyes,

Open your eyes inside,

Know your experiences and bring the hands down.

We will share our experiences to progress further.

How are you,

My friend?

Okay,

I feel calm and quiet and peaceful.

That is very good.

We had a longer practice today.

Thank you.

You see the way these teachers teaching,

You know,

In those days bows and arrows are created.

So he says as the Fletcher straightens the arrow.

So he is giving a metaphor as the mind straightens.

So crooked mind means that impurities are there,

You know,

Mind is constantly thinking anxious,

Anxiety,

Duality and a conflict.

So he says first we have to understand what is the cause of these challenges that comes to the mind.

And once we understand clearly,

Then we fix our goal clearly.

The mind has to move inside.

So that goal is fixed.

So now during the practice of meditation,

The mind goes somewhere else.

You remember and you bring the mind to the practice and that changes everything.