Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods

By Swami Sivananda

Mind is a bundle of Vasanas (desires) and Sankalpas (thoughts, imagination). Mind is a bundle of Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes). Annihilation of mind is Mano-Nasa.

Manolaya is temporary absorption of the mind. This cannot give Moksha. The mind can come back again and wander in sensual objects. Manonasa alone can give release or Moksha.

I. BY VICHARA

How is the mind purified, brought under control and how are its activities stopped, and how is it annihilated? Here are some useful and practical points. Mind can be controlled and annihilated by Vichara or enquiry of ‘WHO AM I?’. This is the best and most effective method. This will annihilate the mind. This is the Vedantic method. Realise the unreality of the mind through philosophical thinking.

II. BY ERADICATION OF EGO

Eradicate the feeling of egoism. Ego is the seed of the tree of mind. – I thought is the source of all thoughts. All thoughts are centred on the little – I. Find out what the little – I is. This little – I will dwindle into airy nothing. It will be absorbed in the Infinite – I or Para Brahman, the source for the little – I or Ahamkara (egoism).

The Sun of Self-realisation is fully seen when the cloud of ego disappears.

III. BY VAIRAGYA

Vairagya (dispassion) is another method for annihilating the mind. It is distaste for objects of sense-pleasures by finding out the defects in the sensual life. Objects are perishable. Sensual pleasure is momentary and illusory.

IV. BY ABHYASA

Abhyasa or practice is another method. Concentrate the mind by fixing it on Brahman. Make it steady. Abhyasa is ceaseless meditation. This leads to Samadhi.

V. BY NON-ATTACHMENT

Asanga or non-attachment is a sword to destroy the mind. Take the mind away from objects. Detach Attach. Detach it from the objects and attach it to the Lord. Do this again and again. The essence of the seed of the sprout of world-experience, which is desire, can be destroyed by the fire of non-attachment.

VI. BY VASANAKSHAYA

Vasanakshaya is another method. Vasana is desire. Renunciation of desires leads to Vasanakshaya. This will lead to annihilation of mind (manonasa). Desire for objects of pleasures is bondage; giving it up is emancipation. Desire is the most essential nature of the mind. Mind and egoism are synonymous.

VII. BY PRANAYAMA

Vibration of Prana causes movement of the mind. It gives life to the mind. Pranayama or control of Prana will stop the activities of the mind. But it cannot destroy the mind to its roots like Vichara.

VIII. BY CONTROL OF THOUGHTS

Control the thoughts or Sankalpas. Avoid imagination or day-dreaming. The mind will be annihilated. Extinction of Sankalpas alone is Moksha, or release. The mind is destroyed when there is no imagination. The experience of the world illusion is due to your imagination. It vanishes away when imagination is completely stopped.

IX. BY EQUANIMITY AND BALANCE

Mental renunciation of possessions is another method. The absolute experience can also be realised if you learn to be in a state of thought-suspending Samadhi.

Attainment of equanimity is another method. Be balanced in pain and pleasure, heat and cold, etc.

X. BY DEVOTION AND SERVICE

Japa, Kirtan, prayer, devotion, service of Guru and study are also means to annihilate the mind.

He alone experiences everlasting peace and Eternal Bliss who has transcended the mind and rests in his Own Satchidananda Atman.

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods – Discipline, Awareness, and Inner Freedom

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods gives a clear spiritual direction for seekers who want to master the restless mind and live with peace, strength, and wisdom. The mind is subtle, powerful, and always active. It thinks, remembers, desires, fears, imagines, reacts, and creates attachment. If it is uncontrolled, it becomes the cause of bondage. If it is trained, it becomes a great instrument for meditation, devotion, knowledge, service, and liberation.

The conquest of the mind does not happen through one sudden effort. It requires patience, purity, regular practice, and right understanding. The seeker must not hate the mind, because hatred creates more conflict. The mind should be observed, educated, purified, and directed toward higher truth. Just as a wild horse becomes useful when trained, the mind becomes powerful when disciplined.

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods begins with self-observation. The first method is to watch the mind carefully. Observe what makes it angry, what attracts it, what frightens it, what creates jealousy, and what disturbs peace. This observation should be honest but calm. When a weakness is clearly seen, it loses some of its hidden power.

The second method is discrimination. The seeker must distinguish between the permanent and the temporary, the higher and the lower, the helpful and the harmful. Many desires appear sweet in the beginning but end in restlessness. Discrimination helps the seeker choose peace over excitement, wisdom over impulse, and truth over illusion.

The third method is sense-control. The senses constantly pull the mind outward through form, sound, taste, touch, smell, comfort, entertainment, and praise. These experiences are not evil by themselves, but slavery to them weakens inner strength. Moderation in food, speech, sleep, pleasure, and social habits protects mental energy and makes the mind steady.

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods also reminds us of the fourth method: control of speech. Speech is closely connected with thought. Harsh words, gossip, criticism, lies, complaint, and useless argument disturb the mind. Speak truthfully, kindly, and only when needed. Silence, when practiced wisely, saves energy and turns attention inward.

The fifth method is meditation. 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 the mind back gently. Each return is a step toward mastery.

The sixth method is mantra repetition. A sacred name or sound gives the mind a holy channel. Instead of wandering in useless thoughts, the mind begins to move in divine remembrance. Repeat the mantra with faith, feeling, and attention. Over time, mantra purifies emotions, weakens lower impressions, and creates inner calmness.

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods becomes practical through the seventh method: replacing lower thoughts with higher thoughts. Anger should be replaced with forgiveness, fear with faith, jealousy with goodwill, selfishness with service, and pride with humility. The mind cannot remain empty in the beginning. It must be filled with noble thoughts so that old habits become weak.

The eighth method is self-examination. At the end of the day, sit quietly and review your thoughts, words, and actions. 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 and growth.

The ninth method is good company. The mind absorbs impressions from people, books, conversations, entertainment, and surroundings. Negative company increases restlessness, doubt, carelessness, and lower desires. Satsang, noble reading, spiritual discussion, and association with sincere seekers strengthen faith, purity, and discipline.

Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods is incomplete without the tenth method: devotion and surrender. The mind cannot be conquered by dry force alone. Prayer, worship, remembrance of God, and surrender soften the heart and reduce ego. When love for the Divine grows, lower attractions lose their power. Devotion gives sweetness to discipline and strength during struggle.

These ten methods should not remain only as ideas. They must be practiced daily. A seeker should begin with small, steady steps. Control one harsh word, reduce one unnecessary desire, sit for a few minutes of meditation, repeat the mantra sincerely, and observe one reaction with awareness. Small victories repeated every day become great inner strength.

The seeker must also remain patient. Old habits may return, the senses may rebel, and the mind may become restless again. This is natural. Do not become discouraged. Begin again with humility and faith. Every sincere effort leaves a spiritual impression and prepares the mind for deeper peace.

In the end, Mind Conquest-Ten Important Methods teaches that the restless mind can be mastered through self-observation, discrimination, sense-control, speech-control, meditation, mantra, noble thoughts, self-examination, good company, devotion, and surrender. When these disciplines are practiced sincerely, the mind becomes calm, pure, strong, and obedient to higher truth. Such mastery leads the seeker toward wisdom, peace, self-realization, and liberation.

Mind Conquest by a Simple Sadhana