THE MIND

 


A conversation with Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja

Devotee: Śrīdhara Mahārāja, when one becomes fully conscious of his spiritual identity does his present mind and intelligence, does it become purified or does he lose those and realize…

Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja: It just vanishes. Misconception of a thing and when proper conception comes the misconception vanishes. It may come back again for some time. Suppose there is a post. I take it when in dusk, not more light, ‘Oh, there is a man.’ The post is there, and when in want of sufficient light I may mistake it as a man standing. And that may occur for some time also. Not only one day but sometimes it may be repeated. ‘No, no, no, that post is there. It is not a man.’ It may occur for some time. But when he comes to understand that it is a post the conception of man vanishes. And ultimately when I’m fully conscious I can retain that memory within me and seeing the post no longer I should think that the man standing, like that. Do you follow? Not clear?

Devotee: I’m wondering, does the present mind, the material mind and intelligence, does that become purified?

Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja: Mind is to see things with the view of exploitation; that is mind. ‘It is for my satisfaction, not for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction.’ What is meant for Kṛṣṇa’s service, I mistake it as the thing which is meant for my service. When fully conscious that everything is meant for the service of Kṛṣṇa, even myself, nothing is created for my satisfaction, but everything exists for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, even including me – then mind, no mind.

Sri Sri Radha and Krishna

Mind is a transaction of a usurper, that what is [the] other’s, I think it is mine and I begin my transaction with that. That is mind, bhoga-buddhi, saṅkalpa-vikalpa. ‘How I can utilize for my purpose, how I can avoid this which come to hinder my enjoyment.’ This is mind. And when nothing for [me] meant, I am also meant even for the other, then no function of mind remains, mind has to go away forever.

But if offense, only salvation then again mind may again come back in the mental system, within the cage mental system, if he deviates from the permanent knowledge that everything meant for Him, for the Lord. For the time being, he may have some sort of conception that everything is meant for God, not for me. Again he may deviate. [Then] ‘It is not for me.’

But when definitely he realizes that everything has got positive meaning and it is for Him, and I am also for Him, firmly established, then mind disappears forever. Then another mind will, from within, in its position may arise from my inner heart; how I shall serve. How I shall enjoy, this is our present mind, and how I shall serve, by this, by that, that is another.

Ordinary people’s mind, their ordinary thinking in their interest of loss and gain of this world calculation. But after attaining the highest stage, Mahāprabhu says His mind is Vṛndāvana. He is always seeking after how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs, the others there. That is another internal mind. That is all pure spiritual, but doing the function of a mind, as we find here, similar. This is perverted reflection of that real mind.

Mind means to invite something and to discard something. Such plan, ‘I want this, this, this. I want to avoid this, that, that.’ That is mind. It will help me and it will disturb me. What will disturb me I must dismiss. And what will help me I must imbibe. In this way the mind works and helps the ātmā (soul) to do his service. Mind generally here means this mind, relating to the plane of exploitation. That will vanish. That is only a reflection, perverted reflection. The original is there, that is the real concern.

Sarvve mano-nigraha-lakṣaṇāntaḥ, in Bhāgavatam [11.23.45]. [“Charity, constant and conditional prescribed duties, mental and sensual control, hearing the scriptures, holy vows and duties – all these are observed to gain subjugation of the mind. Mental control is known as the supreme yoga.”]

The consequence of all forms of different processes of progress is meant to get away from this present mind of exploiting nature. Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Nitāi. Nitāi. Nitāi.

17 Nov ’81

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3 Responses to “

THE MIND”

  1. Devarsi says:

    Subtle thinking feeling eg.

  2. Devarsi says:

    The mind is the subtle element which is thinking feeling and willing

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