Becoming a mentor – Reflections to know our self & train our mind towards better
Sunil Kumar is currently member, managing committee, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. An engineer and project manager trained at Vickers Armstrong Engineers and Babcox & Wilcox, UK, he is a former general manager of The Projects and Equipment Corporation of India, Ministry of Commerce and Consultant, NIDC, Ministry of Industry. Sunil has been member of a high-power government committee for value orientation in Planning Commission and In-charge of Value Education Programmes of Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. He has written books on Vedanta, managerial effectiveness – Indian Insights, human values, etc. His passion lies in applying Indian wisdom & Vivekananda's principles to managerial situations. His vision and managerial expertise led to the setting up of a unique PGDBM Management Institute in Delhi, called SriSIM, of which he was a Founder Trustee and Professor and which offered education in Indian ethos based Management. He is currently taking the message of Vedanta-centric human development to public servants through programs on 'Ethics in Governance. LESS ... MORE
Every moment we have 'choices', but modern teachers and preachers have failed to 'teach or preach' how to 'know' and build 'powers of mind' to walk the talk towards the higher and better. Today we've teachers and preachers who 'believe', but we don't produce the 'Acharya and Shrestha' or 'Seers and men of God who 'see, realise, love all'!
Whether we like it or not, we are continually in the process of 'becoming' and the 'educated choice' is to become 'better' not 'worse', in and through all our goals, choices, thoughts, motives, actions, relationships. At least now let's learn from our Vedantic wisdom which asserts that along with, and simultaneously with 'knowing', we must build 'ability'. And incidentally, all 'armed forces' do follow this commonsense, universal, ancient wisdom!
And the 'better' can only be determined if we've an idea of the 'best' and so, process of education and preaching must inspire us to continuously reflect and strive to 'Know yhyself'. A person who has more and more love, care, and concern for others, is committed to kartavya-palan; and fulfils all his duties, is certainly better!
Understanding and managing our mind: I am the 'subject', the 'knower', the body-mind are mere 'objects. I am not the object. This 'awareness' that 'I am not the mind' helps in control! Only continuous, regular, repetitive practice and spirit of selflessness and commitment to duties are needed to purify/refine and expand the mindset to feel one with awareness, consciousness.
Doing what 'I' want to do implies doing what the mind wants to do. Freedom is not having to do what the mind wants to do! The motive power for all actions is either our 'duties' or our 'good-bad wants, desires'; and as we choose, we build our destiny. As educated people, we must continuously learn and practice to check the actions and desires to do wrong and continuously practice doing better. Those actions, which take us towards manifesting our 'infinite potential' for 'perfection', are good or right actions and those that take us away are wrong actions. Not allowing the mind to take us towards lower desires is to be constantly practiced.
Mind imbibes that on which it dwells & it likes to dwell on what it likes. Only a pure mind, refined by 'righteousness/good' can be led. Based on past memories as impressed in our mind, our thoughts and mind flow towards 'trivia' and 'likes-dislikes'. From Trivia we've to learn to withdraw through 'practice'. And from likes-dislikes we've to learn to detach by learning to focus on the higher, better. Only when the mind gets hooked on the better will it stop tempting the lower.
Mind wants enjoyment, whereas 'I am peace and fulfilment'. Mind will not give up easily. Only repeated better thoughts and habits can overcome past tendencies and impressions. There is no shortcut – 'Practice & detachment/focus on higher'.
We can learn how to manage the 'unwanted thoughts flowing in our mind' by following the example of how we're managed by our mother, father, teacher, police, and how we ignore an unwanted Guest!
Through continuous exposure to good thoughts and deeds, righteousness, commitment to duties, kartavya-palan, disciplined life, etc., supported by daily self-development practices, we can gradually purify, refine the mind, and make it more amenable to control towards the best.
Not allowing the mind to take us towards lower desires is to be constantly practiced. Good actions calm the mind, and only a calm mind can really be effective and peaceful, and allow us to experience our full potential perfection and bliss.
Because of the numerous impressions we create every moment, which propel us into fresh actions, the very nature of mind is to be restless like a monkey. Drunk with 'Desires'; stung by scorpion of 'jealousy'; and also possessed by devil of 'pride'; the mind is therefore very difficult to control! The more self-control we have, the greater a person we become. Mind is a continuous flow of thoughts – wanted / unwanted.
The mind is built to look outside through the five sense organs. By its very nature mind has a tendency to 'flow down' – be tempted, enjoying the experience of the senses, weak people don't have self-control and do wrong. Mind is difficult to lift up and control – like reversing the flow of river. Mind is one-track in nature; gets attached easily but detaches with difficulty. Mind is material in nature, just matter! I am conscious, the master of the mind, not its slave! Our mind carries the impression of every single thought, word, action; choice/motive.
Some reflections on how I get inspired to be better? I accept myself totally and express my gratitude to all who have helped me be what I am. I take full responsibility for what I am, and from now on, it is up to me to take responsibility to try to become better towards the best.
I am a unique person, different from all; I want to discover my strengths and weaknesses, what I am good and bad at, what I really want and what qualities and skills I need to develop, and how I can prioritise my life towards long-term good for all. I want to discover whether my wants are in harmony with my deep-seated need for happiness, peace, and bliss.
I will learn to reduce quantity of thoughts by keeping busy on planned SMART goals; improve quality by pouring good thoughts, prayers, meditation, study/ discuss/ explore inspiring books, satsang, etc.; control direction towards good, better, best.
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