In The Mind - The Battle for Devotion
The arena of the spirit soul's struggle for liberation is in the mind. The mind is recognized as the nucleus of the material body, acting as the repository for sensual images and material desires, which are referred to as the trash of material contamination. This contamination is the root cause of lust, anger, pride, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear, collectively constituting bondage to fruitive activity. What learned man would put faith in the mind?
Mind as Friend or Foe
The mind's nature is very restless, and if full confidence is placed in it, it may cheat us at any moment. Even wonderful activities performed by a person who is not one's friend will not create any impression, but a mind polluted by material desires discourages the very existence of spiritual identity. Consequently, those whose minds are attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence are bewildered and lack the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
- The mind is by nature very restless, and one should not make friends with it. If we place full confidence in the mind, it may cheat us at any moment.
- In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.
Battlefield for Devotion
The only way to conquer this internal enemy is to engage in the battlefield for devotion. The recommended method for shattering the mountain of dirt (in the form of desires to lord it over material nature) in the mind is to concentrate on the lotus feet of the Lord. There is no difference between devotional service in the temple and meditation on the form of the Lord, as He appears within the mind or in some concrete element.
- The Lord's feet act like thunderbolts hurled to shatter the mountain of sin stored in the mind of the meditating devotee. One should therefore meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord for a long time.
- You keep Krsna on the mind. The maya, darkness will never be able to come. That is the first-class yoga system.
Conclusion
The challenge of spiritual life is successfully waged in the mind. By actively keeping Kṛṣṇa on the mind, one utilizes the first-class yoga system and invites the purifying power of the Lord to eradicate the material trash. This leads to a state where one is undisturbed in mind (dhīra) and can attain the rapt attention and purity necessary for advancing in devotional service.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category In the Mind. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.