After trying several techniques that many of us may have tried to keep the mind busy, hence keeping away from bad thoughts. Yet, if these negative thoughts continue to return, persist, and keep us engaged, what can we do to keep our mind focused so that we can remain unaffected when bad thoughts occur?
The answer lies in having the scientific knowledge related to the nature of mind and how bad thoughts occur. Furthermore, when you realise your role in all of this, you will succeed in staying unaffected, at peace, and detached.
The nature of mind
The nature of the mind is to think, it will continue to show you things throughout the entire day. It is like a radar constantly making you aware of ‘what if this happens and what if that happens.’ It simply keeps on showing you things. This is defined as a natural state of mind, until the thoughts are not harmful to us.
This is the science of the mind. Just as all the senses do, the mind too is performing its own function. Even if you do not want to, the ears will not refrain from listening, will they? You can listen if you choose to, but if you do not like what the ears are listening to, then you can decide not to. Similarly, when the mind shows you things which you do not like, you can choose not to agree with it. For example, if you are in a car driving happily and you happen to pass by a car accident, your mind will start to jump up and down. It will tell you, ‘suppose the same thing happens to us, what if this happens or what if that happens.’ This is when the mind is said to be getting out of control, above normality.
The trick to pacify the mind
When the mind says ‘what if we have a car crash, etc.’, you can say ‘I have heard what you have said, but I am sure everything will be fine’. This will pacify the mind because you have caught the initial thought and given the remedy as soon as it materialised. This means you have managed to contain the thought before it loses control, before it starts to intensify and bombard you with an array of thoughts.
The master key to keeping the mind still and to remain detached from bad thoughts. When a good thought arises in the mind, due to ignorance of the Self, one believes, ‘I only thought’, and thus tends to become engrossed. But when bad thoughts arise, one understands, ‘I do not want to think bad, but yet the bad thoughts are coming.’ Thus it can be understood that the mind is separate from You.
Therefore, the only permanent solution to contain the mind is by acquiring the knowledge of the Self. This is because after attaining Self-Realization, you realize that you are a pure Soul, and hence you are separate from the mind, body and speech.
Once the knowledge of, ‘I am a pure Soul’ is gained, the mind will be contained; otherwise, it is extremely hard to contain the mind. After Self-Realization, when the mind starts to wander around, you as the pure Soul need to just ‘See and Know’ the thought. Then, you do not mind whether the thoughts are good or bad because there is no judgement of good or bad. This is the best and the most right method to get your mind rid of the bad and excessive thoughts!
To know more: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/know-the...
Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifest within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.