Çré Kåñëa continued:
“Whenever the mind, being concentrated on the spiritual platform, is
suddenly deviated from its spiritual position, one should carefully bring it
under the control of the self by following the prescribed means. One should
never lose sight of the actual goal of mental activities, but rather,
conquering the life air and senses and utilizing intelligence strengthened by
the mode of goodness, one should bring the mind under the control of the self. An expert horseman, desiring to tame a
headstrong horse, first lets the horse have his way for a moment and then,
pulling the reins, gradually places the horse on the desired path. Similarly,
the supreme yoga process is that by which one carefully observes the movements
and desires of the mind and gradually brings them under full control.” Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravärté Öhäkura elaborates:
The path of giving regard to the mind (verse 19) is praised, using
an example. Controlling the mind by this path of fulfilling its expectations is
the highest method. Like inspecting the
inclinations of the mind of a horse that one desires to control, one inspects
the inclinations of one’s heart. It is impossible to control the horse
suddenly, simply by thinking that the horse should know one’s intentions. One
should follow its movements carefully. Similarly one should follow the
movements of the mind.
Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravärté Öhäkura points out that
after slightly controlling the mind, the
method of complete control of the mind should be used. This is explained in the
next three verses:
Çré Kåñëa continued:
“Until one's mind is fixed in spiritual satisfaction, one should
analytically study the temporary nature of all material objects, whether
cosmic, earthly or atomic. One should constantly observe the process of
creation through the natural progressive function and the process of
annihilation through the regressive function.
When a person is disgusted with the temporary, illusory nature of this
world and is thus detached from it, his mind, guided by the instructions of his
spiritual master, considers again and again the nature of this world and
eventually gives up the false identification with matter. Through the various
disciplinary regulations and the purificatory procedures of the yoga system,
through logic and spiritual education or through worship and adoration of Me,
one should constantly engage his mind in remembering the Personality of
Godhead, the goal of yoga. No other means should be employed for this purpose.”
Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravärté
Öhäkura elaborates:
By analysis of the elements from mahat-tattva to earth, one
should meditate on the creation from prakåti to earth, and destruction
from earth to prakåti.
(By analyzing a material object one looses one’s attraction to it. By seeing only the cause (the Lord) and not the effect (matter) one is always in Krsna consciousness.)
Çré Kåñëa continued: “If, because of momentary inattention, a yogi
accidentally commits an abominable activity, then by the very practice of yoga
he should burn to ashes the sinful reaction, without at any time employing any
other procedure.”
