The fifth step on the Fivefold Path is Swadhyaya—self-study. Asking the question, “Who am I?” describes this step, albeit simplistically. If I have an arm amputated, I refer to “my arm.” Who is the “my?” My arm obviously exists independently of myself. Trying to discover who the “my” is, is Swadhyaya.
Similarly, if we focus on our MIND, delving into how it operates may be helpful in distinguishing mind from other parts of us.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, a commentary on all aspects of Yoga, can help with our Swadhyaya. The second, and very well-known verse or sutra describes Yoga—or self-development basically— as “the inhibition of the modification of the mind.”
Says the scholar I.K. Taimni about this—whereby the Sanskrit word CITTA refers to inhibition,—broadly, therefore, “Citta corresponds to ‘mind’ of modern psychology….” Further he writes, “the mind of modern psychology is confined to the expression of only thought, volition and feeling.”
One thing for sure is that the establishment of the Mind Training Programme by adherents of the Fivefold Path, not only honours the crucial role of MIND, but provides valuable tools for helping us get—and maintain—our minds heading in the right direction. Training our minds to react with love under all circumstances is the goal and the modis operandi.
The importance of mind may be further seen through another description of Taimni:
“It (the mind) is like an intangible screen which enables the Light of consciousness to be projected in the manifested world.” Seems pretty important to me. If we are to ‘go within,’ study–and training– of mind may be very helpful, almost indispensable.
The word, “inhibition” in the sutra, has three rather distinct meanings—‘restrained,’ ‘controlled,’ ‘inhibited.’ As it is important for us to be patient (though persistent) with ourselves as we grow, it is illuminating to again quote Taimni, “All these meanings are applicable in the different stages of Yoga (or self-development). Restraint is involved in the initial stages, control in the more advanced stages and inhibition or complete suppression in the last stage.”
Recovery from addiction lends some insight here as in the beginning, one needs to restrain oneself from compromising situations and from old impressions on the mind—in this instance, using drugs or alcohol. “If you hang around a barber shop long enough, you’ll get a haircut,” as the saying goes. An alcoholic in recovery might do well to get a job other than being a bartender, for example.
Control eventually kicks in where the compulsion has been greatly reduced.
Inhibition or complete suppression is a bit tricky in the addiction example, as AA proponents would argue that the disease of alcoholism is never “cured” as such. Complete suppression—even after decades of sobriety—thus, is not in the realm of possibility. The slogan, “One day at a time,” speaks to this.
An important part of self-development is being aware of your shortcomings—and strengths—and behaving accordingly.
If I know I have an addictive personality, ‘cheating’ on a particular discipline is much more dangerous than it is for someone able to stop after one coffee, one potato chip, one beer, one partner (at a time).
Alcoholics Anonymous is built on the premise that the disease of addiction gives me an ‘allergy’ to alcohol not all that different than peanuts are to one allergic to them—and equally life-threatening.
Judgment of self and others gets in the way of our progress. Notwithstanding, the ultimate judge is my Higher Power, putting energy into self-judgment can be counterproductive to our efforts.
That isn’t to say that studying or assessing our actions is not valuable. It is to say that allowing emotions in the present to be highly affected by old actions by judging situations is to be avoided. The Law of Karma takes care of consequences of our actions. We need not compound matters through judgment.
A wonderful by-product of reducing self-judgment is a reduction in the tendency to judge others—a great impediment to love.
And reducing and eventually eliminating barriers to love is an achievement well worth pursuing.
Finally, the experiences of thousands worldwide is that the relationship of ATMOSPHERE to MIND is especially helpful considering how disturbed atmosphere is nearly everywhere on the planet. HEAL THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE HEALED ATMOSPHERE WILL HEAL YOU. How to heal the atmosphere? Sunrise/sunset copper pyramid Agnihotra helps to do this with minimum effort on our parts.
Note:
The website www.homapsychotherapy.com has compiled the complete Mind Training Programme in detail for those inclined to study further. (See in the menu of the cite, “Homa Therapy Mind Training.”)