om mind
mind. Even a few minutes practice every day helps us introspect
and gain more understanding. Though there may be a few
eruptions in the early stages as we confront and clear out all kinds
of emotional and mental blockages, phobias and fears, in time,
regular meditation does indeed bring about a noticeable stilling of
the mind.
Dis-identification with the mind
The second approach of yoga seems almost banal in its simplicity:
let the mind continue as it will, without trying to change or
suppress it. There is no need to deny or overly control the mind.
Accept the mind as it is, whilst, at the same time, engaging in
some systematic practice of yoga, including meditation (the
aforementioned first approach) which helps to still the mind.
The key is not to identify with what the mind does – whether
thoughts, feelings, emotions or dream-like imagery. You may say,
‘Easier said than done!’ And, in fact, on an intellectual level, it is
impossible not to identify because the intellect itself is part of the
mind! One cannot think, ‘Now I will not identify with my thoughts or
feelings.’ This is merely mental gymnastics – one stream of thought
trying to dis-identify with another stream! It would be far easier for
a dog to catch its own tail than to succeed in this endeavour. It
doesn’t lead anywhere, only to inner conflict and a constant losing
battle with the mind.
So what to do? First of all, we should understand that dis-
identification, in the yogic sense of the word, is not really a mental
process: it is a function of a more fundamental layer of our being
known as awareness.
Secondly, we should understand that awareness cannot be
realised by the mind; rather we may contact this aspect of our
being when the mind stops – as it can and does in meditation.
The experience of awareness brings a quantum change in
our self-identification. We realise we can impartially observe
and objectify (i.e. dis-identify with) the functioning of the mind
and personality. As such, we realise the basis of our embodied
existence is not the individual mind but something deeper. We start
to identify with awareness even when thoughts are in full flow.
Getting in touch with awareness
So how do we realise awareness? It is difficult to say precisely,
but we can say that the regular practice of meditation brings
an underlying stillness to the mind. This, combined with a more
accepting attitude to the vagaries of the mind, allows the mental
patterns to settle, to be replaced by periods of lucidity. In these
periods of lucidity, we get glimpses of something that underlies the
mind. This is awareness. We can say that meditation helps to bring
clarity, thereby allowing awareness to become self-evident, to shine
through into the personality. Its existence has always been there
in every moment of our lives but we mistakenly identified with the
mind. Through meditation, awareness comes more to the forefront
of our self-identification — not only during meditation but during
every moment of our lives. We become ‘more conscious’.
We realise thoughts are expressions of what we are...not what
we are! As such, we can afford to start to take ourselves less
seriously. More and more, we are enabled to take the whims
and idiosyncrasies of our personality, our thinking and indeed
every changing mental state and mood, with a pinch of salt. We
are enabled to live the ups and downs of life without becoming
destabilised, tasting happiness and unhappiness, success and
failure, as being really two sides of the same coin of life – as
merely passing scenes in life’s panorama, all projected on the
screen of awareness. In fact, the previous quote from the Yoga
Sutras should be re-written in translation as: yoga is the cessation
of identification with the patterns of mind.
This change of identification grows on us slowly. But it allows
awareness to become a primary factor in our lives.
This change of identification doesn’t mean that we become
indifferent to life and neglect our affairs and duties. On the
contrary, we live life more passionately and responsibly, but with
less self-importance. We realise the value of acting appropriately
in every situation. We care more for the welfare of others and,
indeed, ourselves. But, concurrently, we start to see everything –
every event, every situation, every being (human and non-human)- from a wider perspective.
The outcome of meditation
Meditation brings about these two quantum changes. First of all,
it stills the mind out of which can flow clarity and a less stressful
attitude to life. Secondly, it brings this quantum change in our self-
identification.
We start to flow more with life, with its ups and downs, instead of
battling against the current. Instead of being a lonely creature in a
harsh universe, we realise that each of us, as an embodied being,
is an expression of something ineffable. We start to engage more
in the mystery of life and existence, and to feel awe. We realise, as
modern science has discovered, there is an underlying principle
which ties everything together. Beyond the ego-personality, there is
no separation.
This dis-identification is not a rejection of the personality – of
what each of us is in embodiment. Rather, it allows us to more
intensely celebrate life and to appreciate our place in it. We realise
life is a journey of discovery: discovery of the unknown dimensions
of our being and existence in general. In appreciating our own
individual personality we also appreciate others. As such, we
become more compassionate.
On any mystical path, including yoga, meditation is fundamental.
It opens us up to the potential within all of us, bringing us joy and
wisdom. Most of all, it allows us to re-identify with awareness.Swami Nishchalananda is the founder of Mandala Yoga Ashram,
an authentic yoga and meditation retreat centre in the heart of
south-west Wales (mandalayoga.net)