Dirty Waters

ಕೊಳದ ಜಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಮನ; ಲೋಗರದರೊಳಗಿಳಿಯೆ |
ತಳದ ಕಸ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಬಗ್ಗಡವದಹುದು ||
ಕಲಕದದ್ದದೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೊಡದು ಮರಳಿ |
ತಿಳಿಯಹುದು ಶಾಂತಿಯಲಿ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

Your mind is like the (stagnant) waters of a pond, which is easily disturbed by external objects. When worldly objects get into it, all the dirt from within surface up; the dirt from within comes up and creates a murkiness. But, if we let it alone and not disturb it, it will gradually settle down to its peaceful, clear state.

DVG ki Jai :) Mind is compared to stagnant waters - stereotyped, limited, dirty at times, helpless, easily disturbed by even a small stone, but quick to settle down. When we step into it we can see the dirt come up easily. This is why DVG tactfully compares mind to a pond, not a river which flows. The trick is to keep it still or keep it flowing like a river and not letting the internal dust corrupt our nature of peace.

There is lot of dirt within in the form of kaama (lust, desires), krodha (anger), lObha (greed), mOha (illusion), mada (pride), and maatsarya (jealousy). We have no control on any of these arishadvargas, six categories of 'enemies' that can drag us out from the path of righteousness. We are the nicest people until others step into our "possessions". When a neighbor gets a car or a colleague gets a promotion or when a friend gets a better mark the dirt within surfaces. When external things disturb us, these negative elements surface out and show our "true colors", or most often the "wrong colors". What should one do when disturbed? Keep calm and let things settle down. Do not do anything in the "heat of the moment" as people say.

Our mind learns from us, and it learns to simply react depending on situation, which gradually become habits. So it would be what we train it to be. And, intelligence is the tool to train the mind. Many people use intelligence and knowledge interchangably, which is incorrect. Every human is equipped with intelligence, the ability to differentiate of the right from the wrong, the good from the bad, the infinite from the infinitesimal. Knowledge is accumulated learing from the past and can infact be a by-product of intelligence. Intelligence can help acquire knowledge, but aggregating knowledge need not translate to intelligence. Knowledge is abstract, and intelligence is the application of it. So, knowledge is below intelligence. Anyway. The ability to access that intelligence depends on the level of consciousness of an individual, which is tuned by samskaara and karma.

Why all these??? They make sense to understand that there are several levels for one to train the mind. The most intelligent ones know to control their mind and have the ability to live a simple life. Living a simple life is the most complicated aspect of life, because the mind would not let you, unless you train it to. So, it is the intelligent who can see the real purpose of life and tune his desires to match the ultimate goal of life. Anyway.

If we let mind on its own it will learn from the instincts or the sense, which are mostly negatively valenced. In that case, we are no different from animals, which are directed and dictated by their senses. So, one needs to practice some amount of yama (restraints and disciplining) and niyama (observances). The practice of ahimsa (non violence, peace with creation), satya (truthfulness), aasteya (refraining from wrong doing, like stealing), brahmacharya (refraining from adultery, observing control), kshama (forgiveness), druti (steadfastness), dayaa (mercy), aarjava (honesty), mitaachaara (ಆತ್ಮಸಂಯಮ, temperance, controlled behavior), saucha (cleanliness) are all the different steps prescribed for yama. Note that each one needs a special training for the mind, each one needs some amount of effort and sadhana. Further, one should also learn to practice hri (remorse), santhosha (contentment, satiation), dhaana (charity), aastikya (belief in God), eeshvarapooja (worship of the Lord), siddaanta shravana (hearing to the supreme most spiritual texts), mati (intelligence), vrata (piety), japa (chanting), tapa (meditation) are the aspects of niyama. Through these one can train the mind to be peaceful.

While the sanatana dharma prescribes one to be with peace with oneself, the western belief would have us believe in indulgence. With indulgence come greater disturbance because there is never an end to the needs and wants. The right way to live though is to keep the mind unperturbed by the external turbulances.

Sarvam Shri KrishNarpaNam.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Managing the mind

ಮನವನಾಳ್ವುದು ಹಟದ ಮಗುವನಾಳುವ ನಯದೆ |
ಇನಿತನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸು ಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ||
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿದನು |
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತುಮರಸಿನಿತ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

Mend your mind in a way you mend a stubborn child; slowly capture its mind with some sweet little stories; shouting and spatting will not help, befriend it by giving small pleasurable things.

"Fantastic". Unfortunately there is no better adjective than this to qualify this verse. Wonderful analogy, again. A child knows little about whats right and whats wrong, it knows to catch your attention and get what it wants. Most people seem to either give in for the crankiness or shout at a crying child. Both these are temporary solutions. When we give in to its demands we are reinforcing its strategy and the future cries and demands. On the other hand when we shout and force the child to be silent, it will be so for a while but deep within it will continue to carry those negative thoughts and burst out as a volcano in future. We may have to understand "why" it is crying. Even if we do not get them what they want, we should know to calm them down. Most importantly, a crying child will not listen to us and by punishing we make it even more stubborn.

So, the first step towards managing a cranky child is to divert it, to calm it down. Either give it something else it likes or tell it some nice little stories, show it a moon and bring it to peace. Now, gradually feed it with positive thoughts, which is the second step. Most parents act instinctively by shouting the child to silence and think that they have achieved their objective, but they do not realize that this is a temporary workaround.

The mind is like a child. You may spoil it by giving in to its tantrums and demands, but it will keep demanding more and more as you try to satisfy it. If you try to forcibly shut its demands, it will fool you by either get into depressive state or a violent state in future. So, convince it with nice words and stories. First, one need to control it, bring it to a stable state. Then slowly and gradually teach it to be happy with what you have, teach it to enjoy with what you have, it will gradually learn to be calm. But, controlling mind is like controlling wind, it is said in Bhagawad Gita.

Sri Shankara says in Bhaja Govindam too: yal-labhase nijakarmopáttam vittam tena vinodaya cittam. If we can teach our mind to be happy with what we get through right deeds, it will learn, but we let it indulge and it will.

Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga text 35.

sri-bhagavan uvaca
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena ca grhyate

The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.

Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga text 36.

asamyatatmana yogo

dusprapa iti me matih
vasyatmana tu yatata
sakyo 'vaptum upayatah

For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right means is assured of success. That is My opinion.

|| ಸರ್ವಂ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಂ ಅಸ್ತು ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||

ಮನೆಯ ತೊರೆದೊಡಲೇಂ? ವನಗುಹೆಯ ಸೇರಲೇಂ?
ತನುವನುಗ್ರವ್ರತಗಳಿಂದೆ ದಂಡಿಸಲೇಂ?
ಬಿನದಗಳನರಸಿ ನೀನೂರೂರೊಳಲೆದೊಡೇಂ?
ಮನವ ತೊರೆದಿರಲಹುದೆ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ

Leave your home, enter a deep forest or a cave, observe penance, move to foreign lands, do what you want, your mind will always follow you.

This verse is a logical follow up of ಬಾಳ್ಕೆಯಲಿ ನೂರೆಂಟು ತೊಡಕು ತಿಣುಕುಗಳುಂಟು, ಕೇಳ್ಕೆಮಾಣ್ಕೆಗಳಿಗವು. ಜಗ್ಗವೊಂದಿನಿಸುಂ, ಗೋಳ್ಕರೆದರೇನು ಫಲ? ಗುದ್ದಾಡಲೇನು ಫಲ?, ಪಲ್ಕಿರಿದು ತಾಳಿಕೊಳೊ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ. Life is full of hurdles, the only way to live it is to live it and not leave it. Just smile, endure any difficulties and take steps as you can to overcome them. The other fantastic followup of this verse is my favorite ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ ರಸವೇನಲ್ಲ ಜೀವನದ ತಿರುಳರ್ಗಮ್ | ಇಕ್ಷು ದಂಡದವೊಲದು ಕಷ್ಟ ಭೋಜನವೆ || ದಕ್ಷತೆಯಿನಿಡಿಯುವಂಗೊಂದೆರಡು ಗುಟುಕು ರಸ | ಮಾಕ್ಷಿಕರು ಮಿಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ || That juice from life needs to squeezed out through hardwork and determination.

But, people want to run away from problems thinking that there must be some peace somewhere; "In pursuit of Happiness". There is an escapist in most people. Some try leaving home, running away from responsibilities. Some perform austerities in secluded places. Some try going to foreign lands. Some buy cars, some TVs. All ways to find peace outside self. It is all in the mind, which will always follow you do what you may. Unless you calm it down it will keep wanting more like an unsatiated fire. So, the only way to bring about peace is through mind. Keep it happy and it will be happy irrespective of where you are and what you do.

A cliche as it may sound, but people are haunted by their past, worried about their future, concerned about their present, when do they live? The only goal of life is to be happy irrespective of what. No car or no bunglow can provide that peace.

Check out these verses for some amazing thoughts. We'll explore each of these in subsequent blogs.

ಮನವನಾಳ್ವುದು ಹಟದ ಮಗುವನಾಳುವ ನಯದೆ |
ಇನಿತನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸು ಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ||
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿದನು |
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತುಮರಸಿನಿತ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

ಕೊಳದ ಜಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಮನ; ಲೋಗರದರೊಳಗಿಳಿಯೆ |
ತಳದ ಕಸ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಬಗ್ಗಡವದಹುದು ||
ಕಲಕದದ್ದದೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೊಡದು ಮರಳಿ |
ತಿಳಿಯಹುದು ಶಾಂತಿಯಲಿ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

ಕುದಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚೆವೆಗಟಹುದು; ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿರೆ ಹಸಿನಾತ |
ಕದಡಲೊಡೆವುದು ಹಾಲು; ಕೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವದರಹದ ||
ಅದವೊಲೆ ಮನದ ಹದ, ಅದನೆಚ್ಚದಿ ನೋಡು |
ಬದುಕು ಸೊಗಹದರಿಂದ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

ದೇವ ಮಂದಿರ ಭಜನೆ ಪೂಜೆ ಪ್ರಸಾದಗಳು |
ಜೀವನದಲಂಕಾರ, ಮನಸಿನುದ್ಧಾರ ||
ಭಾವವಂ ಕ್ಷುಲ್ಲಜಗದಿಂ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಮೇಲೊಯ್ವು- |
ದಾವುದಾದೊಡಮೊಳಿತು ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||

|| ಸರ್ವಂ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಂ ಅಸ್ತು ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||

Jealousy ...

ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯೊಂದರ ರಗಳೆ ಸಾಲದೆಂದೇನೊ ವಿಧಿ
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕಿಚ್ಚಿನ ಕಿಡಿಯ ನೆಟ್ಟಿಹನು ನರನೊಳ್
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ತುಂಬಿದ ತೋಳ ಮಲಗೀತುಃ ನೀಂ ಪೆರರ
ದಿಟ್ಟಿಸುತ ಕರಬುವೆಯೊ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ

Another gem! As if hunger is not enough, man is inflicted with the disease of jealousy (what is referred to as a burning in the stomach) at others' success. Even the most ferocious of beasts sleep when they are full, but you (man) whine at others oh idiot.

Here, DVG refers jealousy as a spark that renders people sleepless. There are several hungers; hunger for comforts, hunger for honor, hunger for touch and so on, which all dangle on the the ire of jealousy. If we can satisfy jealousy, we could satisfy every other hunger. A wolf here probably refers to the other forms of hunger, which can all rest but this hunger of greed and jealousy takes away sleep.

ನೋಡಿ, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕಿಚ್ಚನ್ನ ಎಷ್ಟು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ತೂಗ್ತಾರೆ! "ನೆಟ್ಟಿಹನು ನರನೋಳ್" ಅದರ ಸೊಗಸು ನೋಡಿ, it is deep rooted in the human nature ಅಂತ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊ ಬಹುದು ಅಲ್ವ? Man fights for 4 basic things "eating, mating, sleeping, and defending", from which all the other complex needs arise. Eating and Mating are associated with growth and development, Sleeping and Defending are associated with Peace, Prosperity, and Security. Anyway. Physical hunger in the belly is satisfied easily if some food given at the right time. But, the fire in the belly (jealousy) grows like forest fire which needs to be watered and kept cool.

|| ಸರ್ವಂ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಂ ಅಸ್ತು ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||