I am a follower of Sri Vaishnavism. Despite leading a life of materialism for a long while, I have been blessed with the nirhetuka kripa of Emperuman and have been devoting myself to sath vishayam for 2 years now.
Although I have not had the good fortune to meet you in person to get your darshan, I have always regarded you as my acharya. You have been actively promoting our sampradayam and helping to clear the doubts of many people.
I am writing to you for advice regarding a problem I am facing. Lately, I have been afflicted with a number of disturbing, unwanted thoughts whenever I pray/think of Sriman Narayana. I always make it a point to meditate on the Lord or our acharyas/alwars even when I am doing some work, so that I can always feel His presence. But my peaceful contemplation is often interrupted by many unwanted thoughts, so that it becomes difficult to even contemplate on spiritual matters.
I was wondering if your holiness could help me out on this issue and give some advice. Does this happen because of some past karma or something? I certainly do not like these disturbances, but they keep coming. Maybe this is what Sri Krishna was alluding to in the Gita when he said that the mind is difficult to control. Is this something that happens to many people?
I feel very distressed about this. Please suggest a way for me to carry on with my bhakti to divya dampathigal and acharyas without getting these unwanted thoughts.
At your lotus feet,
IT IS TRUE THAT MIND IS SO POWERFUL TO DISTURB US LIKE ANY THING.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW YOUR THOUGHTS TO FLOW IN THEIR OWN WAY. THEN THERE WON’T BE ANY STRESS ON YOUR MIND. THEN THE FLOW OF THOUGHTS SHOULD BE CHANNALIZED IN THE WAY YOU LIKE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR MIND IS SHOWING FRUITS, LET IT THINK. TAKE KRISHNA TO THAT PLACE AND SHOW HIM ALL THE FRUITS YOUR MIND IS CARRYING WITH IT, AND TELL KRISHNA THAT ALL THOSE FRUITS ARE FOR HIM. THEN YOUR MIND GETS PURIFIED BECAUSE OF HIS PRESENCE THERE.
NOW, HERE YOU DID LISTEN YOUR MIND AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR FOCUS ON KRISHNA ( OR YOUR GOAL ALSO).
=chinnajeeyar=
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Sri Swamiji gave a very elaborate explanation on this, in Githa Jyothi pravachanams. Please visit the website below to listen
The video link is: (Telugu)
https://chinnajeeyar.org/EventsPrograms/GitaJyothi/GJSlokasVideos.aspx
Its the 18th video clip, on the 6-26 slokam from Bhagavad Githa.
yatho: yatho: nischarathi
manas chanchalam astthiram |
thatha sthatho: niyamyaithath
a:thmanye:va vasam naye:th ||
