The mind is extraordinary where it takes on the state of whatever it is focused on.
ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਸਕਤੀ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੀਉ ॥
The mind, if indulged in Maya becomes like Maya, if indulged in Parmatma becomes like Him.
Gurmat tells us that through meditation (abhiyaas) of Gurbani, we can control our mind. How?
1. In Gurbani, there is power (Kala/Shakti) which can transform the nature of our mind. Just like how an elephant is controlled by a goad, our mind can be controlled by Gurbani.
ਹਸਤੀ ਸਿਰਿ ਜਿਉ ਅੰਕਸੁ ਹੈ ਅਹਰਣਿ ਜਿਉ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੇਇ ॥
The elephant offers its head to the reins, and the anvil offers itself to the hammer;
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਆਗੈ ਰਾਖਿ ਕੈ ਊਭੀ ਸੇਵ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
Just so, we offer our minds and bodies to our Guru; we stand before Him, and serve Him.
Gurbani came from the Parmatma, therefore when our mind merges with it, its desposition becomes divine as well.
2. Most of our sufferings/depression stem from Haumai by associating too much with the so called "self" - be it egoistically or constantly indulging into this "self". Gurbani tells us numerous times that Haumai and Naam cannot dwell in same place. Thus, when we fill our mind with Gurbani teachings, the Haumai (the source of our anxiety) cannot stay in our mind - it has to leave.
ਹਉਮੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਵਿਰੋਧੁ ਹੈ ਦੁਇ ਨ ਵਸਹਿ ਇਕ ਠਾਇ ॥
Ego is opposed to the Name of the Lord; the two do not dwell in the same place.
3. The process is not as easy however because in order for Naam to come reside in our mind, we need to provide space too - we need to clean the large space taken up by dirt of previous deeds (karams). Guru Mahraj helps us in this too because only Gurbani can remove this dirt!
ਨਾਨਕ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਇਉ ਉਤਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਜਲਾਇ ॥੨॥
O Nanak, this is how the filth of the mind is removed; the Word of the Shabad burns away the ego. ||2||
4. As a person continuously do Gurbani kamai, his present demerits and vices starts reducing too as he starts distinguishing the Guru's teaching with his own mind's contemplations - making him a Gurmukh from a Manmukh.
5. To eliminate darkness, we switch on the light. Likewise, to eliminate the darkness of the mind. the method is to indulge the mind into Parmatma's remembrance.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji once told their Sanggat at Anandpur Sahib -"Direct your mind to the right direction, away from vikaar (vices). The mind is like water, wherever you channel it to, it will flow towards that direction".
Since the Parmatma is the purest of the pure, He makes the mind that meditates on Him pure too.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
In the remembrance of God, the filth of the mind is removed.
Therefore they key is not to stop the mind from thinking anything but rechanneling the mind to a path that leads to eternal happiness. In that way, our mind starts being detached from the worldly things and we feel more blissful. The advancement in this journey happens progressively in stages but in the house of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, every step you take towards the Guru is never futile. May Mahraj bless us all to progress one step at a time and make our lives worthy.
ਏਤੁ ਰਾਹਿ ਪਤਿ ਪਵੜੀਆ ਚੜੀਐ ਹੋਇ ਇਕੀਸ ॥
Along this path to our Husband Lord, we climb the steps of the ladder, and come to merge with Him.
Related blog post:
The Mind and its Impurities
References:
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
- Guide to Spiritual Consciousness By Sant Naranjan Singh Ji
- Sri Gurpratap Suraj Parkash Granth