LORD KRISHNA
Let me share with you few general problems in our lives which needs introspection and questioning
the biggest hindu scripture – the bhagwad gita where krishna teaches arjuna about various aspects of life has all the answers to our problems
so let us together enlighten ourselves by asking few questions to lord krishna and find solutions to the certain topics with the help of shlokas and their meaning
so let us all gear up
Conversations with lord Krishna – Episode 6:
A question many of us face in our busy lives — “Krishna, I Can’t Meditate. My Mind Is Too Loud.”
In this episode, Krishna gently addresses the frustrations of a restless mind and offers practical, spiritual insights on finding stillness
Me: lord Krishna, I’ve been trying to meditate. I know it’s important. But my mind… it’s always so loud. I can’t stop thinking. How do I quiet it?
lord Krishna (smiling): The mind is like a monkey, jumping from one branch to the next, looking for something. You are trying to catch the wind with your hands
Me: That’s exactly what it feels like. No matter how hard I try, my thoughts keep racing
lord Krishna: Ah, and this is where many go wrong. They try to “stop” the mind. But the mind isn’t an enemy. It is simply undisciplined
“The mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate. O Krishna, it is very difficult to control the mind, but it is possible by practice and detachment.” (Gita 6.34)
chañchalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛiṣhṇa pramāthi balavad dṛiḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣhkaram
BG 6.34: for, krishna, the mind is very unsteady, turbulent, tenacious and powerful; therefore, i consider it as difficult to control as the wind
meaning
the mind is most infirm and unsteady. The body and senses are harassed continuously by its restlessness.
Peace is practically impossible when the heart is churned by the mind like the milky ocean by the Mandara mountain. Having fed and strengthened itself on worldly things for several births, it has acquired great power and defies all attempts to bring it under control
The nature of the mind is described here by four attributes. It is restless, turbulent, strong and unyielding
Every man knows the vagaries of the mind. The elders compare it to a monkey, drunk and stung by a scorpion. Those who practice meditation know how the mind rebels and defies discipline. Arjuna compares it to the wind
Me: So I should stop trying to control it?
lord Krishna: Not control it. But train it
Meditation isn’t about silence — it’s about awareness
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” (Gita 6.20)
yatroparamate chittaṁ niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā
yatra chaivātmanātmānaṁ paśhyann ātmani tuṣhyati
BG 6.20: the state in which the citta ( mind-stuff) subdued through the practice of yoga, becomes completely tranquil, and in which realizing god through subtle reasoning purified by meditation on god, the soul rejoices only in god
meaning
Shri Krishna says that the satisfaction that our mind achieves from the material world is limited and temporary
The only way to gain unlimited and permanent happiness is to connect our mind to the self or aatmaa
But this happens only when we first disconnect the mind from material objects. The state of the mind when it has disconnected from material objects, and is ready to settle into the self, is called uparamate in the shloka
Withdrawal from the material world is not easy. It is the outcome of following a disciplined spiritual curriculum
First, we have to develop discrimination or viveka by strengthening our intellect through reading and listening about the eternal essence through scriptures
This enables us to develop dispassion or vairagya towards the material world. Dispassion starts turning the mind away from material objects, leading to withdrawal from the material world
It is like our attitude towards toys versus a child’s attitude – we have dispassion, the child does not
So therefore, when the mind has fully turned inward, and has settled into the aatmaa or the self, we experience a deep and lasting level of satisfaction and bliss
But what exactly is meant by the mind settling into the self? It is when the only thought that remains is that “I am the aatmaa” or “I am the eternal essence”. All other thoughts about the world, people, objects, situations and so on have gone away
Me: But my thoughts are constant. How can I focus on myself when my mind won’t sit still?
lord Krishna: Instead of fighting the noise, observe it. Let the thoughts come and go, like clouds passing through the sky. You are not the thoughts. You are the space in which they arise
Me (pondering): So, it’s not about making them go away?
lord Krishna: No. It’s about changing your relationship to them. Watch your thoughts, without identifying with them. This is meditation — samyama, the practice of control through awareness
“When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.” (Gita 6.19)
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā
yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ
BG 6.19: as a flame does not flicker in a windless place, such is stated to be the state of the disciplined mind of the yogi practising meditation on god
meaning
Shree Krishna gives the simile of the flame of a lamp. In the wind, the flame flickers naturally and is impossible to control
However, in a windless place, the flame becomes as steady as a picture
Similarly, the mind is fickle by nature and very difficult to control. But when the mind of a yogi is in enthralled union with God, it becomes sheltered against the winds of desire
Such a yogi holds the mind steadily under control by the power of devotion
Me: That sounds beautiful, but it’s hard to keep that kind of focus
lord Krishna (laughing gently): Of course. It takes time. Practice and patience
But remember, even a little progress in meditation brings peace. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s presence
“A person is said to have attained yoga when his or her mind is tranquil and free from desire for worldly objects.” (Gita 6.18)
yadā viniyataṁ chittam ātmanyevāvatiṣhṭhate
niḥspṛihaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo yukta ityuchyate tadā
BG 6.18: when the mind which is thouroughly disciplined, gets focussed on god alone, then the person who is free from yearning for all enjoyments is said to be established in YOGA and are free from all yearning of the senses
meaning
When the mind is merged in Atma, that very moment the man attains Moksha, liberation from all the ills and evils of human existence.
Desires are the shackles that bind man to samsara. When these desires disturb the mind, Dhyana is not possible
When by discrimination and dispassion, desires are rooted out, the pure mind automatically merges in Atma which is the source from which it has risen. All the desires without any reservation should be given up
The mind should be brought to one focal point and remain steady at that point, namely the Self. The least distraction draws it away from the object of meditation
The mind should rest in Atma alone, to the complete exclusion of everything else. When there are no desires and distractions, the mind by itself comes to rest in its own source-Atma
Me: I see. So, the point is to be with the mind, not battle it
lord Krishna: Exactly. The true goal of meditation is not to silence the mind, but to hear the voice beneath it — the silence of your own being
🔹 Reflection Prompt for Readers:
What happens when you stop trying to “control” your thoughts and simply observe them?
How can you begin to cultivate more patience with your own mind?
do watch my blog
here's to conclude with a disclaimer
i am no expert in the scriptures or do not have any authority to preach any of the holy books but by the grace of lord, the almighty i have got the opportunity to read it and know the true essence of the BHAGWAD GITA
Whatever knowledge i have acquired and gained have been imparted here in my blogs so that all my readers are benefitted as well like i have gained and together we try to make this world a better place:-)
hope this content brings usefulness and peace in you
until next time … keep smiling
much love … stay happy … stay blessed .. always
SMITHA
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