यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ।। ६.२६ ।।

yato yato niścarati manaś-cañcalam-asthiram |
tatas-tato niyamyaitad-ātmany-eva vaśaṁ nayet || 6.26 ||

The question arises: Can the mind attain such restfulness so easily? What is to be done when the process of withdrawal and self-restfulness becomes difficult or delayed?

Krishna foresees the question and adds:

Restrain the desultory mind from wherever it goes and bring it back repeatedly to make it remain fixed on the Self.

The mind has the ability to remain free of thoughts and be restful in itself just as the eyes can remain open without focusing on any object. It is true that the seeker will find the process strange and even perhaps difficult. This is natural because right from birth, everyone’s mind grows with the habit of going outside by linking to sense objects. Imprints caused by sense perceptions begin to fill the mind and drag it further and further towards sensory objects. Thus, thinking and objectification reign as an inevitable trait of the mind. To orient such a mind for withdrawal, is not easy at all. But, to make it restful in itself should be the sole aim in meditation - just as a swimmer remains afloat by continuously overcoming the drowning power of water. Herein lies the success of the sadhaka.

Sadhakas stumble here, and here alone. They are not able to evaluate such restfulness of the mind. The craving for strange and mystic experiences often takes them over. This is where the right exposure to scriptures becomes invaluable.