Going over this section of the Sar Bachan, one thing that especially stands out is Soamiji’s comment, “Due to the restlessness of their minds, they are unable even to stick to one place.” This is a significant statement about the nature of the mind. It is inherently restless, never quite content with wherever it happens to be – always seeking more input and stimulation. This is not bad per se – it’s just its nature. And so if we want to calm the mind, to help it center and focus, we need to find an efficacious method of doing so.
Now it stands to reason that if something is out of focus or alignment, it cannot realign itself of its own effort. It needs something greater – a controlling power superseding it – to achieve this goal. If you are on a bicycle and let go of the handles, it may momentarily stay in line, but will soon wobble and fall down of you do not retake control. Even if you were to install a self-guiding mechanism to maintain balance, it is still this mechanism – created by a human being – which takes control of the situation, not the bike itself.
So here we have the problem with self-proclaimed Gyanis relying on their mental acuity – or their book learning – to achieve a calm mind. It’s just mind talking to itself and impressing itself. There is no calm – only more ongoing chatter. And it is this chatter which can lead to restlessness in life. The example Soamiji uses is of these Gyanis (but can pertain to anybody, really) making pilgrimages to temples, festivals, and a myriad of proclaimed holy sites – at times panhandling for baksheesh (begging for money), or trying to get a miracle ticket, to get in a temple or festival. Or it may be reading book after book, desperately trying to find the ultimate answer. Is there calm there? Is there spiritual poise, balance and Soul-based focus and wisdom? No. Just more of the mind scrambling around trying to satisfy its insatiable appetite for more input (to borrow from the movie “Short Circuit” – actually rather appropriate, seeing as how the comment is made by a self-aware robot hungry for more information).
And so we come back to the point of finding a controlling power greater than the mind – preexisting the mind, the Source from which mind itself was created. And what is that Source, that Controlling Power? Shabda – Naam – the Eternal Spiritual Current from which was manifested all that is. By making Shabda your point of focus and using Simran as a focusing tool, you will gradually bring your mind into focus. You will center it and calm its restlessness and discontent. And furthermore, by focusing your attention upon and immersing it in Shabad Nam, you will feed it spiritual food that will nourish it, and eventually provide the answers to all of its questions. It’s incredibly simple – so simple that self-styled Gyanis and sophists walk right by not noticing (rather like the men passing the trees laden with fruit that Rumi wrote of in “The Visions of Daquqi”) – and if they do notice, it is far to simple to be worthy of their attention (the mind does like data and complexity, after all).
But it really is this simple. Just take time – right now, when you have finished reading this – to close your eyes, take a few calming breaths, and sing “HUUUUUUU”. Even if you have been initiated in the Five Holy Names or Radhasoami Nam, HU is an excellent way of providing calm and focus. Sing HU out loud a few times, and then repeat IT internally, with the tongue of thought. As you do this, you mind will relax and calm down, and you will feel a sense of inner peace that surpasses all. And this is a very good thing.
Have a wonderful day. I hope you have fruitful meditations and a most wonderful day.
All my blessings in the LightSong of Eternal Love,
Michael
http://spiritualfreedomsatsang.org