4. Holiness-May my mind affirm the Holy
Tan me manah shiva sankalpamastu
—Shukla Yajurveda, Vajasaneya Samhita 34-1
Although fettered by the strings of destiny man is blessed with the
power of discrimination. The power of discrimination is the capacity
to discern right from wrong. Man can use his free will to act up to
the judgement given by his power of discrimination.
“God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He
him.”—Genesis 1:26
Only in the human species is this power manifest. Judicious use of
this faculty of discrimination means exercising free will in the
right direction. This delivers us from the bondage of Karma. It is
essential therefore that the mind entertain thoughts that uplift.
When this innate creative power is cognized one can command the
weeds to wither and seeds blossom forth. Constant affirmation to do
so is necessary to maintain awareness of the Spirit that resides
within.
When we get into the habit of affirming the holy the creative power
of the mind tends to shape towards fulfillment. Sublimation of the
outgoing tendencies of the mind correspondingly alters our reactions
to circumstances. Thoughts impinge on the atmosphere. When we have
holy
thoughts the process of upliftment is accentuated. Thus, man is the
maker of his destiny. Thought can buffet circumstances or it can
liberate us from the bondage of circumstances. Hence the
commandment, “May my mind always affirm the holy”.
Circumstances improve when we set into motion the factors that lead
to inner purification. Constant affirmation of a loving mind alters
the material conditions around us. We become better receptacles for
the manifestation of Divine Grace. We get into the habit of always
performing the right action. This is character building. This habit
loosens the grip of desires that cloud the intellect. This is
purification. This purification is functional, i.e. it enables us to
reach higher states of evolution. One cannot truly improve
conditions unless inner improvement takes place.
Right thought eliminates suffering. Affirmation of the holy
consolidates the habit of performing right action under all
circumstances. We can choose our thoughts despite circumstances.
This is the thin end of the wedge which enables us to overcome the
pangs of destiny.
“One chooses to become his own friend or his own foe.”
—Bhagavat Geeta 6-5
The word MAN in English or MANAV in Sanskrit comes from the Sanskrit
root MAN, meaning to think. Man can discern the Changeless among the
changing, the one among the many. Human intellect is not able to
grasp the ONE that pervades all manifestation. When, after
purification, the intellect is transmuted into a higher state known
as PRAJNYA we perceive Reality. Affirmation of the holy creates
proper channels in the mind to intensify the process of
purification.
It is good practice to spend some time daily over self
introspection. We come to know that we are full to the brim with
selfish desires that await gratification and evil thoughts that prey
on others. When we become aware of these things we become less prone
to find fault with others. The egotistical attitude wanes. The gates
to the Kingdom of Heaven within us are unbolted. Holy affirmations
on our part during the period of introspection help us consolidate
the habit of right thinking. Then we think along the right lines not
only during the introspection but all the time. Evil thoughts are
then unable to make their way towards us. This is purification
of the mind.
“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
—1 Cor. 10:12
“Lead me from illusion to Truth Lead me from darkness to Light Lead
me from death to Immortality.”
&nÿÀ•ÿÁÿÿð —Vedic prayer
“And God doth advance in guidance those who seek guidance.”
—Holy Quran 19.76
Buddha stated that undesirable impressions on the mind cause TANHA,
the attitude to cling to life. Jesus remarked:
“Whosoever will save his life shall lose it.”
—Luke 9:24
Non-attachment to material possessions or conditions removes the
fear of death. The duality of attachment and aversion agitates the
mind constantly and involves us in huge energy expenditure.
Ignorance of the Divinity within prevents us from manifesting Love.
This gives rise to hatred and jealousy. We then react in an
undesirable manner to the events that come about in life. This
agitates the mind and disturbs tranquility. Purity of mind brings
about tranquility and we get into the practice of always affirming
the holy.
The purpose of human life is to unfold the Divine within us. Ethical
life, where control over sense organs is stressed, is the foundation
for spiritual unfoldment. Mere foundation is not enough. The journey
has to culminate into soul vision which is Bliss eternal.
Purity of body and mind comes first. The science of Yoga prescribes
YAMA (prohibitions) and NIYAMA (observances) to achieve this. Purity
comes under the latter category. One has to go through some
discipline if one wants to establish himself into happiness that is
not followed by
unhappiness.
Purified mind is incapable of holding undesirable thoughts.
Thinking, feeling and willing shall manifest purity. Replace an
undesirable thought by its antidote. However, there is another way.
Concentrate your mind on the image of a holy person of whom you know
or you have seen or met. The undesirable thought will lose its
potency. You will immediately start attracting similar thoughts to
yourself and this leads to the purification of the subconscious.
Even a little practice will bring the influx of spiritual forces
which will loosen the grip of desires that harass you. Thus,
undesirable elements will be washed off and the flitting tendency of
the mind shall be curbed. This leads to one pointedness and
purification of the mind.
A gardener sows useful seeds and weeds out all other growth. If
neglected, the lot of land will bear useless weeds. Even so is the
mind. When we observe the operation of free will that liberates us
from the cycle of Karmic attachments we come to know the gateway to
the Kingdom of Heaven. Our total identification with body
consciousness is loosened and we transcend the bodily tabernacle to
enter the subtler regions that lead us to the Spirit that resides
within. Our consciousness is enlarged and deepened. The
mind-conditioning is redeemed. Latent faculties become patent and
the homeward journey is made smooth. For this process to operate it
is necessary to cultivate the mind with seeds of virtuous thoughts
and throw away the weeds that tilt us sense wards. The final
illumination that dawns is not a process of accretion but is
instantaneous. The process related only to the removal of dress in
the form of coiled up desires.
Hence, “May my mind always affirm the holy”.
Om Tat Sat!