Thus Spake the Divine - Universal Codes of Dharma

Thus Spake the Divine

Part V – Universal Codes of Dharma

In the first three chapters of this part, Maha Periyava enlightens us about the various Rules of Dharma (Universal Codes of Dharma) that should be compulsorily abided by one and all.

Meditation is an activity in which the individual just sits and allows his mind to dissolve. Easier said than done! What is the obstacle in focusing the mind during meditation? It is the incessantly wandering mind, which prevents focus. Desire, the cause of all sufferings, makes it very difficult to control the mind, as it keeps craving and longing for material things. Though we try to control and tie up our mind, in no time it loosens its knots and starts wandering. While we can control our mouth from talking for a while or control our eyes from seeing for some time, it is absolutely difficult to control the mind and stop it from thinking even for a while.

We tend to brand some people as mad or mentally unstable. There is a very thin line between sanity and insanity. While people with mental illness keep on blabbering without control, all of us, in a way, are also insane. This is in the sense that we keep blabbering internally within our minds, as we have no control over our mind’s activities.

Controlling the mind is called “Yogam”. How can we control the mind? Can we order the mind into thinking when we want it to think? Can we stop it from thinking when we don’t want it to think? That’s one thing that will never be possible! To attain a state of control over the mind, we should be able to conquer our mind.

Only then will it obey our orders. This state is known as “Chitha Swadheenam” in Tamil, which means we have absolutely conquered our mind.

If we are able to attain Chitha Swadheenam, then we can completely control our mind and its thoughts. In times of great pain, we will be able to tell our mind not to think about or feel the pain. Then, the pain will not be a matter of concern at all. We can tell our mind not to be afraid even if a tiger stands in front of us. In times of distress, we can prevent ourselves from weeping. We can make it smile at sorrows. When someone triggers anger in us, we can still remain calm and composed.

To direct our mind the way we want, we should start with focussing our mind on virtuous and ethical thoughts. We should make the mind chant the name of God persistently, so much so, at one of point in time, it will on its own start reciting the name of God unconsciously, dissolve itself and unify into God. Before we die, we must find a way to control our mind. Otherwise, despite taking several births, our mind will continue wandering and getting entangled in lust and animosity. Once we triumph and control our mind, we can become a Yogi. Lord Krishna says he who has conquered his mind is the one who becomes absolutely blissful.

We may think that Yoga is only for rishis and sages and we are not competent enough to master Yoga. Who needs medicines? Only he who is ill, isn’t it? It is we, with a wandering mind, who are ill. Hence, we need the medicine to get over our mind’s illness. There are two ways of controlling our mind. One is by external means and the other is through internal means. For example, we have in this Mutt people like the cook, cart driver etc., who work from outside the Mutt. There are also people who live inside the Mutt to organise flowers for pooja and to prepare the lamp with oil and twig for pooja. The Mutt needs both these people for its smooth functioning.

Similarly, we should focus on both external and internal factors, collate both, and then start bringing control over our mind to reach a state of ‘no thoughts’ in our minds. What are these internal and external factors? Doing charity, adhering to rules of daily rituals, doing Yoga, pooja etc., are all external means, which will facilitate us in controlling our mind. Meditation is the most intimate internal state that helps control our mind.

There are five Yamas (practices) in Yoga that aid meditation for mind control. They are: Non-violence and compassion, Truth and honesty, Non-stealing, Cleanliness and Repression of sense organs.

Non-violence and compassion (Ahimsa): Always being kind, never hurting others and keeping the mind filled with love and affection towards all living beings. Truthful and honesty (Satyam): Involving the body, mind and deeds towards being truthful; not any perception about truth, but truth itself.

Non-stealing (Asteya): Never stealing or having intent to steal another’s property through words, deeds or thoughts. Cleanliness (Shoucham): Purifying oneself physically through regular bath, clean clothing and having regulated food habits Repression of sensory organs (Indriya Nigraham): Never letting the sense organs (eyes, ears, tongue, skin, and nose) wander at their own whims and fancies. Making them function under one’s own control. Not letting the senses do anything for physical pleasures.

These five are known as the Universal Codes of Dharma, which must be abided by all people following our religion.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.