"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Mind and Restlessness

RAMA asked:

How, then, Holy sir, can this restless movement of the mind be restrained by force without causing greater restlessness?

VASISHTHA said:

Of course, there is no mind without restlessness; restlessness is the very nature of mind. It is the work of this restlessness of the mind based on the infinite consciousness that appears as the world, O Rama: that indeed is the power of the mind. But, when the mind is deprived of its restlessness, it is referred to as the dead mind; and that itself is penance as also the verification of the scriptures and liberation.

When the mind is thus absorbed in the infinite consciousness there is supreme peace; but when the mind is involved in thoughts there is great sorrow. The restlessness of the mind itself is known as ignorance or nescience; it is the seat of tendencies, predispositions or conditioning - destroy this through enquiry, as also by the firm abandonment of contemplation of the objects of sense-pleasure.

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad