| Listen to Prabhaata-rashmih Audio |
Harih Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru.
Last night, during satsang, I was again speaking about the mind and the way you have to look at the mind and treat it to make it affluent, resourceful, flexible, light, and magnificent. Yes, all these qualities can be imbued into the mind. Yesterday I was referring to a particular expression, which I like to use to describe the plight of the mind of the ordinary people: “The poverty of the mind”.
Economic poverty and its prosperity seem to be the widespread concern of the individuals, families, societies, nations and even the globe. I don’t have much to say about it because we don’t deal with the economic situations and the way these conditions can be improved, that is altogether a different subject. Economic growth, industrial development and such other topics are primarily focused on the material resources of the country and utilization of these resources. You can leave it to science and technology.
But when it comes to matters concerning prosperity and welfare of the mind – I think, we, ascetics have everything to say. It becomes a comprehensive subject for people like us to deal with. The “poverty of the mind” is simply because of our conventional habits, conventional practices and conventional points of view. That mind which is not able to think liberally about matters is a poor mind.
It is possible that at sometime in your life some particular incident took place. The episode was, somehow, not liked by you. It troubled you. You hated it. And that one incident goes on living in your mind, haunting you. This is called the poverty of the mind. You keep on thinking about it: “I am not able to forget it. This has happened. How can I forget it? I will not. I will not forget or forgive that person or that event.” This kind of reaction is nothing but the poverty of the mind, citta-daridratā.
Maybe, you did not have enough resources to live comfortably when you were young. May be, your parents were not very resourceful. But if you now keep on lamenting- “Oh! I had a very, very bad life. I was very poor. My parents could not do this. I did not have this or that.” – It is another instance of mind’s poverty. May be a period of life was something like this. But you have survived it, and you have passed it. Why again spoil your mind by preserving that memory?
Similarly, “My father did not behave properly; my mother did not give me affection; my husband was not all right; my wife was not considerate; the children did not come up well,” – all these are uncalled for reactions and memories. Because of these memories the whole of the present life becomes miserable. And you make your life pathetic.
Tell me: Where is it written that we will always have favourable environments? Which śāstra says so? We have a number of mythological compositions dealing with Gods and Goddesses. Were even the Gods spared?
Just imagine the plights of Sri Rama. Was his life always one of pleasantness and comfort? Certainly not! He decided to go to the forest and remained steadfast in his resolve. All people opposed him, except his mother. His mother initially cried, but later on complimented him for his righteousness, and said, “You go.” She blessed him. All the others opposed. Finally, he went. The result of his departure was the instant death of his father. So in a way, his righteous resolve killed the father.
What do you think about it? Rama did not know that his father had died. He came to know of it only when Bharata went to Chitrakoota and informed him. Just imagine! What about Sita who was abandoned? Both Rama and Sita lived in separation. Is there any greater privation or difficulty for any of you? Is your plight more arduous?
So, I think, it is the poverty of the mind that you should address. We must have a resourceful mind. A resourceful mind is one that is capable of reconciling with and assimilating any kind of external situation. We may not be blessed to have good children. We may not be blessed to be good parents. We may not have good robust health. Our friends-circle may be bad. Our relatives may be awful. A very ghastly period of life we might have had. All these things, when properly assimilated, must only enrich the mind.
Every input from the world is meant for enriching and empowering the mind. Why don’t you take a solid stand with regard to life and its inputs? I always say, “My dear world, you are mine and I am yours. Any input that you put into my life, I welcome. And I choose to assimilate it and be enriched by it. So don’t fear. Give me whatever you like. I will be at home with it.”
Can you not have this kind of an open assessment, where the mind is capable of assimilating whatever comes? So, this citta-daridrataa, the poverty of the mind, if it is there, should be recognized and treated. In its place, cultivate sufficient inner affluence and enrichment. And how can that be had?
Enrichment of the mind is through qualities, virtues and excellences. Try to hear about them, think about them and reflect upon them. Try to imbibe them by spending time mentally on these qualities and virtues.
I would like you to think about it. Cultivate and possess an affluent, enriched and resourceful mind; do not hang on to a poor mind.
Harih Om Tat Sat ! Jai Guru !
* * *