Mastery of self, requires mastery over mind & thoughts.
A human being comes with many faculties, such as intellect and memory. Intellect is the ability to process and analyse information and memory is an accumulation of information through our five senses. Collectively these two faculties create the human mind and thoughts.
During the course of human evolution, an individual has become identified with their mind. They don’t seem to be able to accept that mind is not the true self. Similar to a human body, it is an aspect or a faculty of a human being.
This total identification has created an illusion. It does not allow the individual to understand that mind is like an instrument or a tool. It can be put aside or in our case silenced whenever it’s abilities or its function is not required. Although mind is an extraordinary faculty, relying on it so fundamentally has caused the civilisation to suffer.
How to overcome the identification with mind…
To remove this blockage, we have to look at life from a different perspective. Firstly, we have to realise that body and mind are the physical vehicle. The metaphysical aspect of a human being (human soul) requires the vehicle to experience and interact with the material world. In other words, we have to look at body and mind more as one’s possessions rather than the true self.
Secondly, a gap needs to exist between one’s possessions and the true self. We can create this gap by acquiring mastery over mind. That’s how the individual can overcome the illusion.
What is mastery of mind…
Mastery of mind simply means an individual has the ability to see their thought process as a passive observer. Rather than being one with it, they learn to create a gap between the true self and the mind. This shouldn’t be confused with “not thinking”. A silent mind is an organic outcome of de-identification. This doesn’t mean that it is possible for a human being to forcefully stop thinking altogether.
To understand this, let us look at it from a practical point of view. Suppose you need to commute on a busy road every day to get to work. For those who have done this, sitting in traffic can be overwhelming. It can create all sorts of emotions such as anger and anxiety. But you have a powerful tool that you can use to deal with these. One can be a passive observer of their thoughts and emotions. They can simply allow their feelings or thoughts to rise and fall without reacting or losing control. This is similar to meditating; which will be discussed in another article or you can read my book where I have talked about it in more details.
Observe your emotions as a passive observer to overcome the illusion of a conditioned mind…
In a meditative state, an individual while sitting still, learns how to simply observe the inner feelings and senses without reacting; You can deploy this method to deal with all sorts of day-to-day challenges. By doing so, an individual can maintain their inner peace regardless of the outside circumstances. This is how to allow your true self to be in control at all times.
Furthermore, a silent mind allows for a more joyful and fulfilling existence. The individual comes to appreciate life profoundly. They can unlock the natural powers of mind by getting rid of destructive thoughts and purposeless stress and anxiety. One needs to understand that being in control by worrying is simply an illusion. By no means a human mind is capable of averting a disastrous outcome by overthinking.
Life is an event which we have come to experience and not to control. In fact, the only control we have is to let go of this illusion. Accept life for what is and not for what we want it to be.
