Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

Namaste!

Practical Instructions on Mind-Control
by Sri Swami Sivananda

Why evil thoughts arise in the mind? How are they to be encountered?

The very fact that evil thoughts give you mental suffering is a sign of spiritual progress; for many do not have that much of sensitiveness.

To some it is very difficult to keep the mind unruffled and pure, the causes being deep-rooted worldly Samskaras, unfavourable surroundings, and the predominance of extrovert tendencies. To some, of course, evil thoughts are not a problem at all. They appear occasionally as a passing phase without doing much havoc.

Watch your mind very carefully. Be vigilant. Be on the alert. Do not allow the waves of irritability, jealousy, hatred and lust to disturb you. These dark waves are enemies of peaceful living, meditation and wisdom.

Remedy the cause first: The mind usually thinks of one thing at a time. Concentrating upon good thoughts or any form of the Lord, or the life of a great prophet, or meditating upon the vast expanse and the quiet of the ocean or the sky, will be of great help.

Sometimes auto-suggestion is of no great use because of its immediate relation with its counterpart that has beset your mind. Thinking of the evanescence of life at the moment will make you depressed and weak.

Auto-suggestion is very useful as a daily practice, according to the negative tendency predominant. For example, in the case of a strong desire to revenge, the life of Christ, Gandhiji or Lincoln is a suitable subject for meditation. But, what then should be done at the spur of the moment?

If some wrong is done to you, you can never reconcile your mind by at once trying to think of forgiveness. It will be repulsive and the attempt will be a failure.

First control violent emotions by withdrawing the mind within, and dissociating yourself from the cause and immediate environment. Meditate on the attributes of the Lord, or draw out your attention to a new, interesting realm. Study the lives of great saints. Then take recourse to auto-suggestion. Ponder over the chain-reaction of the evil of revenge, and meditate on the glory and peace of forgiveness.

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The following article has been posted at Sri Swami Krishnanandaji's site:

• Facets of Spirituality

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Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

Conquest of Mind
by Sri Swami Sivananda

Sri Swami Sivananda has always laboured in a Divine Way, on a grand scale, for the spread of the Wisdom of spiritual India, and for the dissemination of practical knowledge on Mind and its total control and conquest. So great has been his contribution to the world’s spiritual literature, human happiness and enlightenment, and so high is his spiritual Eminence that he has been justly esteemed as at once a Patanjali, a Vyasa, a Yajnavalkya, a Sankara, an all-compassionate Saint and a dynamic integral Yogi.

This book presents a number of most helpful hints on the Nature of Mind and many methods for the successful conquest of mind. By aspirants, devotees, seekers after Truth, psychologist, and others who are seeking peace of mind and happiness in life, this work will be found highly useful.

For more information, please see: Conquest of Mind

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NEW KIND OF SANSKRIT! Once the Master went to Benares, accompanied by some of his disciples. Benares is the seat of all Sanskrit learning in India. One of the items on the Master’s programme was a reception by the pundits.

One of the Swamis in the party, who was serious by nature, felt a little agitated and said, “You know, Swamiji writes commentaries on the Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and on many other classical Sanskrit texts. If one of the pundits addresses him in Sanskrit, we are going to be terribly embarrassed.” Someone requested him to wait and see what the Master would do.

The reception was in progress. All the bearded holy men and scholars were standing in a row when the Master walked past them. As was anticipated, one of them began a conversation with him in Sanskrit.

The serious Swami pinched the arm of a disciple and asked, “Now what?”

Without the least hesitation the Master turned round and uttered two sentences in French that someone had taught him! The pundit was stunned! He just looked at the Master and his jaws dropped!

This time the Master did not laugh till he was outside! The pundit must have been wondering what kind of new Sanskrit expression the Master had uttered!

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“Your affiliation to God is your strength. It will save you in this life and in your future life also. What I am telling you is yoga without giving it a label, yet it includes all the yogas. You want a living yoga which is helpful in your practical existence—not yoga only for demonstration or an institution. This is a thing with which you can exist and keep yourself balanced and happy, without complaint against anything. The yogi sees everything in its proper place. When you see a thing misplaced, then it is not yoga, and then you complain.” – Swami Krishnananda

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