(Further from the previous blog)
CHAPTER 5: MERGING MIND INTO INTELLIGENCE
Seekers should carefully study the state of their mind using their ability to discriminate. They should examine their inner cravings and various hidden inclinations. This reflection allows one to identify the flaws that lie deep within the mind in the form of these cravings and inclinations. Once a person recognizes these embedded flaws, they tend to dissolve, leading to a purer state of chitta (the collective state of past memories). This is the law of nature.
As long as a seeker attempts to understand his flaws by listening to Gurus and studying scriptures, he will try to suppress them with virtuous feelings. This approach might temporarily hide the flaws, but it doesn’t eliminate them completely. Eventually, inclinations and cravings will resurface, often in a more intense and destructive manner. However, if one can recognize these flaws clearly, they can be completely uprooted. Seekers tend to keep on deriving pleasure out of their own negativity and fail to appreciate the value of virtues, and as a result they fail to leave their negative tendencies or increase their positive tendencies. This happens if their viveka (conscience or inner voice) is not in concurrence with their heart.
Therefore, seekers should, with the help of viveka, deeply study and try to establish oneness between the heart and viveka, in other words, they should remove the distance between mind and intelligence (buddhi) by merging mind into intelligence. If this happens then negative tendencies will not arise and there will be no arrogance stemming from virtues. Consequently, intelligence (buddhi) will become impartial and calm.
api chet su-durâchâro bhajate mâm ananya-bhâk
sâdhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9, Verse 30
The above verse roughly states that even if the vilest sinners worship Me with exclusive devotion, they are to be considered righteous because they have made the proper resolve.
In this verse the greatness of the determination of a seeker has been explained. God is saying that even the most wicked person should be considered as a saint if he starts continuously remembering Me. Because the resolve that he belongs to God itself will inculcate virtues in such person as has been explained in the subsequent verse.
- (Rest in the next blog) From the book “The Grace of a Great Sage”
(Page No. 9-10)