Any achievement is a result of focussed work. Are you being distracted? Is your mind interested in something else than your aim? What does our ancient Vedic wisdom say about distractions and solution to overcome them?

Let’s first take a brief look at the working of knowledge in our minds. Scriptures state that any piece of information is alive only for 2 seconds, ‘Dwikshanaavasthaayi’. But, we retain information for lot longer than 2 seconds. That’s because it is alive until it gets transferred from the first second to the next second. The next second then takes it to the following second in the same way. This continues as time goes on. The longevity increases as the transfer of knowledge from one second to another keeps going. When we fail to transfer it to the next second, we lose memory of it.

It is such an intricate and fast process that we don’t realise the working of it. When we are able to transfer the knowledge of the same topic/object from one second to 33 seconds, that begins a focused thought (beginning of mananam). Link these 33 seconds to the next 33 seconds such that the topic/object remains the same throughout. Continue this till the mind is completely focused on only one topic/object. This state of mind is called samadhi!

In the state of samadhi, the mind is absorbed into the target object. Nothing takes away the focus from it. No matter what activity the body is put into, the mind sees the same object and its relavance in the activity. Such a state of mind is a focused functional state and can achieve miracles.

This is all great, but how do we get there?

Nature of mind

Vedas give a beautiful solution to help those who are falling into the clutches of distractions (the distractions have their root cause at: desire for other objects that are not part of the goal). The only way to come out of distractions is to take the goal to wherever the mind wanders. One cannot stop mind from thinking or wandering because that is the nature of mind to think. Emptying the mind is not possible, we must work on filling it with what is right. 

Let the mind think, but watch and regulate it. Imagine the mind to be a bird. If you let it fly with no control, then you don’t even know where it is and what it is up to. Therefore, tie a long strong rope to one of its legs and let it fly. You are now relishing the beauty of bird (mind) because you are able to see it fly (you are conscious of it, you have control over it. So, you can work with it to focus on your aim).

Yadha sakunihi su:tre:na prabaddhaha disam disam prapadati

Krishna speaks about manas in Chapter 6, A:thmasamyama yo:gaha of Bhagavad Githa

yatho: yatho: nissarathi
manas chanchalam astthiram |
thathas thatho: niyamyaithath
a:thmany e:va vasam naye:th ||

Wherever and whenever this restless and unstable mind wanders, you should bring it back to focus on purpose of your existence.

All this is possible when you are in company of those who achieved this state. For example: A successful doctor can help understand the path and makes it easier for an aspiring doctor. This is where devotees who attained a state of samadhi can help us with a focussed mind. Their minds are always at the feet of God serving Him all the time. Their minds are in their control. They utilise their mind to their objective. Such great people are very dear to God because they are not succumbed into anything. They experience and share the state of bliss. This is what God wants for all of us as well.  

Goda Devi’s love for God was so intense that her mind worked for her without any practise. Her goal was togetherness with Supreme. Her love for God automatically bounded her to thinking of Him from 33 seconds to her lifetime. At the end, she has attained a state of being worshipped by all of us. (whatever your goal might be, if you are in love with it – you will need no practice. It will be a natural process)

In the 11th song of Thiruppavai, she awakens such ability within us. As part of storyline on the surface, she is calling out a gopika who is the topmost in all aspects, beauty and valour to join her in reaching Krishna. The gopika is born in a family who has innumerable cows and calves indicating great wealth acquired through proper practise of karma. They have the ability to go to the enemy land and destroy them to safe guard their people.

Internally, the gopika represents a great devotee who practise the essance of Vedic wisdom (sarvo:panishado: ga:vaha – Cows represent Vedic scriptures, milk represents the essance) and shares it with everyone. They serve God through their duties and responsibilities. Their karma is therefore transformed into a yajna. Such a devotee’s grace can destroy the source of evil impacts on everyone around them. It alleviates us all from karmic bondage (jeevanam) and elevate to eternal blissful state (ujjeevanam)

Prahlada, Hanuman, Ramanujacharya are all examples of such a state. Their focused mind becomes an inspiration to everyone. Let us seek their support, get their grace, feel the love of God and share the same with everyone around.

– From the discourse of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– Dhanurmasam 2019-2020
– 26 th December 2019, Houston TX, USA

Watch Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji elaborate on these 30 pasurams live from Houston, USA!