Control of the Mind

Control of the Mind

by Swami Sivananda

1. Control by Abhyasa and Vairagya

Their (the mental modifications) control is done by practice and non-attachment.

NOTES

Through Vairagya you will have to check the out-going Vishaya Vrittis and through Abhyasa you will have to cut the new spiritual path for the mind to move on. Vairagya serves the part of an anicut on the river of Vishaya Vrittis. It forms a strong embankment. It does not allow the Vishaya Vrittis to pass outside. Vairagya removes Pratibandhas or obstacles. Abhyasa gives Kaivalya Moksha. Without Vrittis one cannot enjoy sensual objects, (Vaishaya-Vyavahara). If the Vrittis along with Samskaras are destroyed, Manonasa or annihilation of the mind follows.

Here is the gloss of Vyasa: The stream of mind flows both ways; flows towards good and it flows towards evil. That which flows on to perfect independence, Kaivalya, down the plane of discriminative knowledge is named the stream of happiness. That which leads to rebirth and the flow down the plane of indiscrimination or ignorance, is the stream of sin. Among those, the flow towards objects is thinned by Vairagya or desirelessness; the flow of discrimination is rendered visible by habituating the mind to the experience of knowledge. Hence the suppression of the mental modification is dependent upon both.

2. What Is Abhyasa

Of these (Abhyasa and Vairagya), practice is the effort to secure steadiness of (the modifications of mind).

NOTES

The effort to restrain all the Vrittis of the mind and to make the mind steady like the jet of a lamp in a windless place is Abhyasa. To drive back the mind to its source – Hridaya Guha, and get it absorbed in Atman is Abhyasa. To make the mind inward and to destroy all its out-going tendencies is Abhyasa. And this practice should be done for a long time without any break and with perfect devotion. This is mentioned in Sutra I-14.

In this Sutra Abhyasa is explained. As for Vairagya, refer to Sutra I-15.

3. Control by Suppression of Vrittis

The suppression of the modification of mind (the Nirodha Bhumi) is the junction with the moment of suppression, when the out-going impressions and impressions of suppression disappear and appear.

NOTES

In other words, we can say that, by the suppression of the out-going Vrittis of mind and the development of modifications of control, the mind rests firm in Nirodha Bhumi. This is Nirodha Parinama (modification of control).

The mind remains in its real, unmodified state. It is very difficult to understand this and the following four Sutras. You must clearly understand the Chapter on ‘Samadhi.’ Vyutthana means the mind goes outward. Here it means Samprajnata Samadhi. When compared with Asamprajnata Samadhi, Samprajnata Samadhi is outward. Samprajnata Samadhi itself is a distraction of the mind. The passage from the Samprajnata to Asamprajnata Samadhi is very difficult and critical process. It is a trying stage. The Yogi must be very, very vigilant. If one out-going Vritti is checked and controlled, that powerful Vritti which checks the out-going Vritti is itself a modification. This also must be controlled. The mind should become absolutely waveless before Asamprajnata Samadhi is attained.

4. Make the Suppression Steady

Its undisturbed flow becomes steady by habit (continuous practice).

NOTES

The controlling modifications (Nirodha Parinama) must arise so continuously as to become a regular habit. Habit will come only by continuous practice. Then alone Samadhi will come by itself.

5. Control Mind by Virtues

By cultivating the habits of friendliness (towards equals), mercy (towards inferiors), gladness (towards superiors), and indifference towards happiness, pain, virtues and vice, comes peace of mind.

NOTES

The best and easy way of keeping the mind in a state of equanimity or evenness, which is conducive to the attainment of Samadhi, is described here. Maitri and Karuna will eradicate hatred. Mudita will remove jealousy. Mercy softens the hard heart and removes the cruel, harsh nature. By this practice, anger, Abhimana, hatred, egoism, envy of various sorts will vanish. Rajas and Tamas will be removed. The mind will be filled with Sattva. The fickleness of the mind will disappear. Ekagrata state of mind will come in. The mind becomes pure.

Samadhi cannot come in a mind that is filled with hatred, jealousy and anger. By the method of Pratipaksha Bhavana, any good virtue can be developed.

6. Control Mind by Pranayama

Or by exhalation and retention of breath.

NOTES

In the previous Sutra it is stated that by developing virtues you can control the mind. Here, in this Sutra, another method of controlling the mind is given. All Vrittis will cease by the practice of Pranayama. Rajas and Tamas will be removed. The mind will become one-pointed. The body becomes light. The mind will become calm. Different exercises in Pranayama are given in Chapter VII of this book.

7. Control Mind by Vedantic Method

Cut off daily the branches of Sankalpa from the tree of Manas and ultimately destroy the tree of the mind at its root completely. The cutting off of the branches is only secondary. The eradication of the tree by the removal of ego is the primary thing. Therefore, through virtuous actions, if you destroy the idea ‘I’ which forms the very root of the mind, then it will not spring up again. The Brahma Jnana which enquires the true nature of ‘I’ is the fire which destroys the mind. It is the Jnanagni referred to in the Gita IV-37: The fire of wisdom reduces all actions (and the false ‘I’) to ashes.

He who knows the receptacle (Ayatana) verily becomes the receptacle of his people. Mind is verily the receptacle (of all our knowledge). (Chhandogya Upani- shad V-i-5)

Control of the Mind – Discipline, Awareness, and Inner Freedom

Control of the Mind is one of the most important disciplines in spiritual life because the mind is the inner instrument through which a person thinks, feels, desires, remembers, reacts, and decides. When the mind is restless, life becomes restless. When the mind is calm, even difficult situations can be faced with balance. Therefore, training the mind is not a luxury; it is necessary for peace, wisdom, and spiritual progress.

The mind is subtle and powerful. It can lift a person toward devotion, knowledge, service, and meditation, or it can drag one toward anger, fear, jealousy, pride, attachment, and sorrow. The same mind that creates bondage can become a doorway to freedom when purified and guided. The seeker must understand its movements instead of blindly obeying every thought.

Control of the Mind begins with self-observation. Watch the mind during daily life and notice what disturbs it. See how desire rises, how anger speaks, how fear imagines, how pride defends itself, and how attachment creates anxiety. This observation should be honest but not harsh. The aim is not self-hatred, but self-understanding and gradual correction.

Discrimination is the next important step. The mind often runs after things that appear pleasant but do not bring lasting peace. Pleasure, praise, comfort, possession, and success may have temporary value, but they cannot satisfy the deepest longing of the soul. Discrimination helps the seeker choose what is pure, useful, and spiritually uplifting.

Control of the Mind also requires sense-discipline. The senses pull attention outward through form, sound, taste, touch, smell, entertainment, and comfort. These experiences are not wrong in themselves, but slavery to them weakens inner strength. Moderation in food, speech, sleep, pleasure, and social habits helps the mind become steady and clear.

Control of speech is a very practical method. Harsh words, gossip, lies, criticism, complaint, and useless argument disturb the inner atmosphere. Speak truthfully, kindly, and only when needed. Silence, when practiced wisely, gathers scattered energy and turns attention inward. A controlled tongue supports a peaceful and disciplined mind.

Regular meditation is essential. Sit daily in a clean and quiet place. Keep the body steady, calm the breath, and focus on one pure support such as mantra, breath, divine form, light, heart centre, or witnessing awareness. When thoughts wander, bring them back gently. Do not become angry with the mind. Each return is a small victory.

Control of the Mind becomes easier through mantra repetition. A sacred name or sound gives the mind a holy direction. Instead of wandering in useless imagination, the mind begins to move in divine remembrance. Repeating the mantra with faith, feeling, and attention purifies emotions, weakens lower impressions, and creates inner calmness.

Good company is another strong support. The mind absorbs impressions from people, books, conversations, surroundings, and entertainment. Negative influences increase restlessness, doubt, indulgence, and carelessness. Satsang, noble reading, uplifting discussion, and association with sincere seekers strengthen purity, discipline, devotion, and courage.

Self-examination should be practiced every day. Before sleep, review your thoughts, words, and actions calmly. Ask yourself: Did I control anger? Did I speak kindly? Did I waste time? Did I remember the Divine? Did I act selfishly or with service? Such reflection is not for guilt. It is for correction, growth, and renewed effort.

Control of the Mind is supported by devotion. The mind cannot be conquered by dry force alone. Prayer, worship, surrender, and remembrance of God soften the heart and reduce ego. When love for the Divine grows, lower attractions lose some of their power. Devotion gives sweetness to discipline and strength during struggle.

Detachment is also necessary. Detachment does not mean rejecting life or avoiding responsibility. It means freedom from slavery to pleasure, praise, possession, success, comfort, and personal importance. The seeker performs duties sincerely but remains inwardly balanced. When attachment becomes weaker, mental peace becomes stronger.

Selfless service purifies the mind. When life revolves only around “I,” “me,” and “mine,” the mind becomes narrow and restless. Service expands the heart and weakens selfishness. Work done as an offering to the Divine becomes spiritual practice. A serving heart becomes humble, compassionate, and peaceful.

The seeker must remain patient. Old habits may return many times. Desire may rise, anger may appear, and the mind may resist discipline. Do not become discouraged. Begin again with faith. Every noble thought, every controlled word, every sincere prayer, and every moment of awareness becomes part of inner victory.

In the end, Control of the Mind is the path of transforming restlessness into peace and weakness into spiritual strength. Through self-observation, discrimination, sense-discipline, speech-control, meditation, mantra, good company, devotion, detachment, service, and patience, the seeker makes the mind calm, pure, and obedient to higher truth. Such mastery leads toward wisdom, self-realization, and liberation.

Ten Bhakti Commandments