How to control the mind, the beautiful camel-like mind.

I have received a request to begin a thread on the subject of how we can learn to control our minds. Forum members are welcome, even encouraged, to contribute their views on this subject.

The only contribution I can make to the discussion is to post this beautiful shabad by Guru Arjan Dev ji, in raag Gauree Poorbee, on Ang 234 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj.


ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ik oankaar sathigur prasaadh ||
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:



ਕਰਹਲੇ ਮਨ ਪਰਦੇਸੀਆ ਕਿਉ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਮਾਇ ॥
karehalae man paradhaeseeaa kio mileeai har maae ||
O my wandering mind, you are like a camel - how will you meet the Lord, your Mother?

ਗੁਰੁ ਭਾਗਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਗਲਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਆਇ ॥੧॥
gur bhaag poorai paaeiaa gal miliaa piaaraa aae ||1||
When I found the Guru, by the destiny of perfect good fortune, my Beloved came and embraced me. ||1||

ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਧਿਆਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
man karehalaa sathigur purakh dhhiaae ||1|| rehaao ||
O camel-like mind, meditate on the True Guru, the Primal Being. ||1||Pause||


ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਧਿਆਇ ॥
man karehalaa veechaareeaa har raam naam dhhiaae ||
O camel-like mind, contemplate the Lord, and meditate on the Lord's Name.

ਜਿਥੈ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਲਏ ਛਡਾਇ ॥੨॥
jithhai laekhaa mangeeai har aapae leae shhaddaae ||2||
When you are called to answer for your account, the Lord Himself shall release you. ||2||


ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਅਤਿ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਆਇ ॥
man karehalaa ath niramalaa mal laagee houmai aae ||
O camel-like mind, you were once very pure; the filth of egotism has now attached itself to you.


ਪਰਤਖਿ ਪਿਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਇ ॥੩॥
parathakh pir ghar naal piaaraa vishhurr chottaa khaae ||3||
Your Beloved Husband is now manifest before you in your own home, but you are separated from Him, and you suffer such pain! ||3||

ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮਾ ਹਰਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਭਾਲਿ ਭਾਲਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa maerae preethamaa har ridhai bhaal bhaalaae ||
O my beloved camel-like mind, search for the Lord within your own heart.


ਉਪਾਇ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲਭਈ ਗੁਰੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਖਾਇ ॥੪॥
oupaae kithai n labhee gur hiradhai har dhaekhaae ||4||
He cannot be found by any device; the Guru will show you the Lord within your heart. ||4||


ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਣਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa maerae preethamaa dhin rain har liv laae ||
O my beloved camel-like mind, day and night, lovingly attune yourself to the Lord.


ਘਰੁ ਜਾਇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਰੰਗ ਮਹਲੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਮੇਲਾਇ ॥੫॥
ghar jaae paavehi rang mehalee gur maelae har maelaae ||5||
Return to your own home, and find the palace of love; meet the Guru, and meet the Lord. ||5||


ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਤੂੰ ਮੀਤੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਜਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa thoon meeth maeraa paakhandd lobh thajaae ||
O camel-like mind, you are my friend; abandon hypocrisy and greed.

ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਲੋਭੀ ਮਾਰੀਐ ਜਮ ਡੰਡੁ ਦੇਇ ਸਜਾਇ ॥੬॥
paakhandd lobhee maareeai jam ddandd dhaee sajaae ||6||
The hypocritical and the greedy are struck down; the Messenger of Death punishes them with his club. ||6||


ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਲੁ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa maerae praan thoon mail paakhandd bharam gavaae ||
O camel-like mind, you are my breath of life; rid yourself of the pollution of hypocrisy and doubt.


ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਸੰਗਤੀ ਮਲੁ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੭॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/29251-how-control-mind-beautiful-camel-like.html
har anmrith sar gur pooriaa mil sangathee mal lehi jaae ||7||
The Perfect Guru is the Ambrosial Pool of the Lord's Nectar; join the Holy Congregation, and wash away this pollution. ||7||

ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa maerae piaariaa eik gur kee sikh sunaae ||
O my dear beloved camel-like mind, listen only to the Teachings of the Guru.


ਇਹੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਅੰਤਿ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਇ ॥੮॥
eihu mohu maaeiaa pasariaa anth saathh n koee jaae ||8||
This emotional attachment to Maya is so pervasive. Ultimately, nothing shall go along with anyone. ||8||

>ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਜਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਖਰਚੁ ਲੀਆ ਪਤਿ ਪਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa maerae saajanaa har kharach leeaa path paae ||
O camel-like mind, my good friend, take the supplies of the Lord's Name, and obtain honor.

ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਪੈਨਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਲਇਆ ਗਲਿ ਲਾਇ ॥੯॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29251
har dharageh painaaeiaa har aap laeiaa gal laae ||9||
In the Court of the Lord, you shall be robed with honor, and the Lord Himself shall embrace you. ||9||


ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਇ ॥
man karehalaa gur manniaa guramukh kaar kamaae ||
O camel-like mind, one who surrenders to the Guru becomes Gurmukh, and works for the Lord.

ਗੁਰ ਆਗੈ ਕਰਿ ਜੋਦੜੀ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਮੇਲਾਇ ॥੧੦॥੧॥
gur aagai kar jodharree jan naanak har maelaae ||10||1||
Offer your prayers to the Guru; O servant Nanak, He shall unite you with the Lord. ||10||1||

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

__________________

Derawalas have the perfect formulae.

The other day, a juggler came with a huge naughty monkey and the she monkey. Children assembled around him to see the games of the monkey. The Monkey was playing and dancing to the tune of the stick of his master. Some how, the string of the monkey with which it was tied got broken and the monkey ran away. It attacked the children and climbed up the house and started jumping from one house to the other. People got panicky. But could not catch the monkey. They asked the “Madari-juggler” to catch his monkey. He pursued and controlled the monkeys in his own way in no time.fficeffice" />
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29251

Similarly the Master and nourisher of our most powerful mind is the Creator-God. Guruji says that the devotees should pray to God, while singing and listening to His praises. This should bring their minds under control for the sake of concentration in meditation. God would surely oblige them. Gurbani tells us, “mn kw qosw hir nwmu hY ihrdY rKhu sm@wil ] The God’s Name is the diet of the mind; cherish it in meditation, and preserve it carefully within your heart. Otherwise controlling mind or conquering mind with self-help is most difficult. It works like this, just to get the water from deep down, we install hand pump. We may struggle for hours to get the water from down but unless we pour some water from top, possibility of pulling water from down is nill. It is law of nature. With the same principal, in order to awake mind and immerse in Him, which had been fast asleep since birth, we will have to call and appeal and that call is by way of remembrance of His true word. There is no other way. Therefore be humble and make a request and say “O God, help me to immerse my mind into baani’ and utter beautiful exclamation ‘Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru single minded, effortlessly, truly devoted. It is real hard to do, but the gradual effort and practice will blossom into inexhaustible joy. We should not let our mind oscillate between our past and future. And block our inner joy. This will start weakening the five evils, which had complete hold on the mind and will pave way to awake. This meditation and request is like pouring water from top. Mind is not under the control of the body. It needs understanding of the gur sabd and the grace of the God.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29251
Guru Amar Das describes how to control the mind. gur prswdI TwkIAY igAwn mqI Gir AwvY ] how can this mind come under control.By guru’s grace it is held in check instructed in spiritual wisdom it returns to its home. 426.11. Again it says on page No.298.17 mnu bis AwvY nwnkw jy pUrn ikrpw hoie ] The mind comes to be under control O Nanak with God’grace. Hence the control of mind depends upon the Grace of God achieved by developing developing virtues, which unfortunately are not granted but learnt with active individual efforts.
There is another angle of the problem. Many people ridicule as to how mind can be conquered by singing and listening to the glories of God? The reply is quite simple. It is just like bringing spun cotton near fire. It would burn in no time. Again with the rising of sun, day dawns, and night disappears. Similarly one friendly with the lion need not be afraid of Jackals. God is all-powerful and a transparent Truth. Darkness dare not go near. Similarly the devotees afraid of evil and vices can get rid of the vice by going near God. When we get closer in prayer to God vice never accompanies us. By and by vice shall never come near us if we remain immersed in the praise of God and listening to His glory.
From my book Japjisahib
Best regards

Very many thanks for a lucid explantion of as to how to control the mind.

There is another dimension to the control of mind and that is provided by Tri -Gunas that we classify as Sattva, rajas and tamas.These Gunas have been referred to in bani quite frequently and are the constituents of the entire universe , both physical and mental.Sattva reflects the poise that is conducive to purity, knowledge and joy.This joy is not the same as is felt by the contact of senses by the various objects. It may be closer to the Bliss and at some point may be a pure bliss i.e. if one is able to realize the self[jeo]
Rajas leads to activity, desires and may be restlessness. Tamas makes the mind to lower planes only where one is always seeking pleasure through senses.It has never been an easy exercise to define the Gunas.

These constituents may be present in the individual minds in various combinations and permutations and accordingly the nature of mind is determined.It is this that explains the intrinsic human nature that varies from person to person.

Thus the mind can be changed by changing the three qualities that make the mind pure or impure.According to Bani the mind is the product of the food that we take. I am not aware of the relationship between these and the mind but do realize that the subtlest form of the food feeds the mind. If the food is pure mind follows. If mind is pure memory becomes firm and when the memory is firm one can reduce the worldly contacts and bondages easily or with relative ease.

Rajas and tamas food causes attachment and delusions and doubts and thus become a barrier in acquiring spiritual knowledge. Sattva helps in the reduction of attachment and delusions/doubts. So in moulding the mind the food of requisite characteristics is also recommended.

Thus a person who wants to control the mind shall have to take satvik food only so that he gets firm and strong memory that shall result in reducing the bondage with the worldly affairs and shall have chance of realizing the Jeeva, the soul[the real self] and be in the state of bliss than to be in the state of pleasure or pain caused on account of the pleasure derived of the sense.

These three Guna are also stated to be the Gunas of maya i.e. illusion. If one is sativik one can , in my opinion though I am not very sure , get over the maya as well. Needless to say that all this requires His grace.

It is thus through the constant simran and deep love for the vaheguru, as stated by you and taking the appropriate input for the mind that the process of becoming closer to the Reality is possible.When the mind is cotrolled and is pure there remains nothing to be realized as the self is reflected in the mind and the mind becomes the recepient of the light of the 'self' and it remains in the state of bliss.

I disagree very strongly on this!!

oops, double post!

I think they do, why else would so many people go to them?

Do you want to know this formula? Its very simple, in fact too simple. Just stop thinking and take this chooran daily while standing on your head, it solves all of life's problems! Ignorance is bliss afterall!

---------------------------------
Twinkle ji,
What evidence is there for these claims?

Kindly let me know as to the reason of disagreement and if I have the answer I shall try to reason it out.I think japjisahib04 has very nicely summed up the position in Sikhism so far as the Control over mind is concerned. Bhagat ji, I have no proof regarding the claims made in the statement.

Twinkle ji,
So how do you know if that's true or not? The opposite could be true. Rajas and tamas may help you and satvik may destroy you... you never know without evidence.