How do I Purify My Mind?

Students! 

Try to maintain purity. Keep your ornaments, belongings, clothes and even this body very clean. This would comprise purity at the external level. Purity of thoughts and mind comprises inner purity. Thus, you should have purity at both the external and internal levels. 

How can you make yourself clean at the level of the mind? You clean your body by washing or wiping. But how do you know the impurity present inside you? Can you see it? If not, then how can you purify your mind? You can achieve that pure state of mind if you develop faith in the truth that there is only one God residing in all beings. God pervades and permeates everything. If you believe and act according to this truth you develop purity of heart. The Divine aspect of truth, existence and bliss is all pervading. Who can decide whether something is good or bad? It is possible to decide whether something is good or bad only when there is another one contrary to it. There exists no second thing. How then can there be a question of good or bad? Ignorant people believe that there is a second entity. That is attachment towards the body. If a person believes that there is a second thing called the body, he comes to the decision that something is good and something is bad. But it is not possible to say if Divinity is good or bad. No one can decide that. 

Vessels, for instance, are made of clay, wood, copper, tin, silver and gold. The same sun is reflected in each of them when these vessels are filled with water. How can you decide that the sun in a particular vessel is good or bad? You can attribute value to the vessels. You can say that the vessel made of clay is cheap and the vessel made of gold is costly. You can value the vessels, but how is it possible to value the reflection of the sun in each of these vessels? What is good and bad here? The vessels pertain to nature. The sun, on the other hand, is an embodiment of the Divine principle. Hence the vessels are impure with reference to the sun. The sun is purer compared to the vessels. The sun is an infinite ocean of love. A living being is an embodiment of love. If there is no vessel, the water cannot be stored. If there is no water you cannot see the reflection of the sun. Hence to see the reflection of the sun you need a vessel. Water inside the vessel is also essential. This water is the mind. The body is the vessel. The reflection (of the sun) inside the vessel is the Atma. Hence the Atma residing in everyone is the same. The difference is only in terms of the vessel and the distinguishing factor. 

If you start such an enquiry you will understand that every mistake or fault lies at the level of the body or the mind. In some vessels there may be impure water. In some vessels there may be water which is not steady, which is moving. Some vessels may have pure water. You can decide that the reflection seen in pure water is Satvic, the reflection seen in moving water is Rajasic and the reflection seen in the impure water is Tamasic. Hence what is it that you should purify now? You should purify the fickle and impure nature of the mind. The Rajasic and Tamasic nature of the mind has to be transformed into Satvic nature. 

How can you achieve this purity of mind? How to achieve this steadiness? What is the Sadhana that you should do to achieve this steadiness and purity? Today man is trying to cover his faults and mistakes. He is trying to search for faults in others. Man’s mind will not be pure as long as these two qualities are present in him. Such a man cannot attain steadfastness. The mind of a person who tries to look for the bad in him and good in others is pure and steadfast. But today all practices are merely physical and materialistic in nature, embellished with fanfare and pomp. This fanfare is leading to the decline of man. Hence man is unable to understand the aspect of Atma. 

A student said, “Even though it is difficult to understand Swami, if we try to follow what Swami says we are sure to be bestowed with the deservedness”. What then is the way to receive Swami’s Grace and the deservedness? The student said, “There is a mistake in the relationship you have with Swami”. Where is that mistake? Everyone may have devotion. Everyone may have love for Swami. But it is not enough if you have love for Swami. Your behaviour is also important. If you understand the true aspect of Divinity, you will behave in accordance to the norms prescribed by Swami. But man is not employing science or learning in his activities. Many people may think in different ways. Irrespective of the condition you are in, you should try to overcome the mistake that is standing between you and Swami. Instead of this if you try to develop ill feelings, it will not be possible to earn Swami’s Grace despite your stay with noble souls, good congregations and magnificent temples. 

Source: Qualities Dear To God, Discourse 1, My Dear Students Volume 4