Drishti Yoga Is Essential For Mind Control!
- Maharshi Santsewi Ji Paramhans
[English translation of an article written by the legendary spiritual preceptor of Santmat, Maharshi Santsewi Ji Paramhans taken from his book “Maharshi Santsewi Ji’s Holy River of Knowledge”
- Translated by Pravesh K. singh (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati, http://blog.360.yahoo.com/praveshksingh )]
On the path of yoga there is a crying need for mind-control. It is immensely useful in yogic practices, especially in the initial stages of yoga. It is not possible to progress on the pathway of yoga without having accomplished control over mind. This is why proponents of both the Hathayoga and Rajayoga have laid strong emphasis on control of mind. Hathayogis consider breath-control to be important in order to rein in the mind, while the Rajayogis attach greater importance to still our ‘drishti’ (gaze/ sight /vision/glance).
Hathayogis say, “Just as the wind (flowing because of a running fan) ceases to flow on stoppage of movement of the fan, mind, in the same way, is stilled as the pulsation of prAnvAyu (vital air or breath) stops. When throbbing of breath stops, mind becomes quiet or still, and with stilling of mind the world also disappears or vanishes.”
Rajayogis, on the other hand, believe that breath-control is not necessary for conquering the mind, rather it is a hindrance in the process, as the First Chapter of Shandilya Upanishad says, “Just as lions, elephants and tigers are tamed little by little, breath also should be controlled gradually, or else if any mistake is committed in the procedure, it may even kill the practitioner (of breath-control).”
The fact of the matter is that the mind is subtle whereas air is gross. To try and control a subtle thing with the help of a gross substance is tantamount to fettering a mad elephant using a rope made of lotus fibre. That is, in the same way as it is not possible to tie up an elephant with the lotus filament, it is also not possible to conquer the mind forcibly. In the Second Chapter of Muktika Upanishad Lord Shri Ram counsels Hanuman Ji,
“VimUdhAh kartumudyayuktA ye haThAchchetso jayam |
Te nibandhanti nAgendramunmattam visatantubhih ||”
[Foolish are those who try to conquer the mind forcibly just as it is foolish in the same measure to chain an elephant with a lotus-stalk]
Breath follows mind, but the vice versa is not true. It is directly evident in that when our mind is excited by disorders such as lust, anger etc. our breath becomes faster, and on quietening of mind breath also slows down.
Moreover, “it should also be kept in mind that flirtatious or unsteady sight or glance results in an agitated mind as well, and steadiness of sight, on the other hand, stills the mind, too. It can be automatically proved if we pay attention to our states of waking and dreaming. When we are woken up or dreaming, in either case, both our sight and breathing are moving, active or restless and so is the mind. When, however, we slip into the state of deep slumber both our sight or gaze and mind become unmoving or stilled though the breath is still active. This amply demonstrates that when the gaze is unsteady, mind also is restless or fickle, and when the sight or gaze becomes focused, unmoving or fixed, the mind also is stilled.
Besides, even when breathing is active, mind becomes totally quiet or stops working if sight or vision is unmoving. Thus, it is proved that disciplining the capriciousness or fickleness of gaze or sight is of vital significance in so far as taming of the mind is concerned.”
(Maharshi Mehi Paramhans)
Again, it is essential to control our sight in order to rein in the mind also because of the fact that the ‘jnAnendriyas’ or the sensory organs are superior to the ‘karmendriyas’ or the organs of action; and eyes enjoy the highest status among the five sensory organs as it is seated on the most exalted (the highest) throne. It is as if the king is enthroned on the highest seat surrounded by the ruled that inhabit the lower regions.
The centre of the stream of consciousness within our body is situated in the AjnA Chakra which is located in the Third eye or The Eye of Lord Shiva, which bears an extremely close and intimate proximity with our eyes (as it is located in the centre of the two eyes). Or, it may also be said that the currents of the Eye of Lord Shiva are more directly related to our eyes than to any other organ. When we grip a particular thing very firmly all the power (force) of our body gets concentrated in our hands. Similarly, when the two streams or currents of our sight become focussed or fixed at one point, all the currents of consciousness otherwise scattered through the whole of the body & its various organs get collected or concentrated; the other organs are, in such a situation, unable to function because of the withdrawal of the currents of consciousness from them.
This logic also places above board that the drishti-yoga (The Yoga of Meditating at the Third Eye Centre) results in command over the mind, because we can perform any action in the outer world through our external organs only. With the grace of Guru and the regular practice of specific procedures (as taught by a truly adept Guru or spiritual preceptor), all the organs would be brought under control, and then what would the bird (the mind), that has been divested of its wings as well as the tail, be able to do!
Another point to be borne in mind is that the mind as also the sight is subtle, while the breath is gross by their very nature. (And it is a fact that) a thing of a particular group, caste or community gets natural or spontaneous support of another homogenous thing, while it might likely face hurdles from a heterogeneous thing (belonging to a different group). So, from this point of view also, controlling our gaze would be more useful or beneficial in stilling the mind than controlling our breath.
So, finally we arrive at the conclusion that through a controlled sight alone can the mind be commanded. Therefore, one who desires to accomplish control over mind in an easy, enjoyable, natural and harmless way, should learn and practice the art of seeing or drishti-yoga.
However, we must remember that it is impossible to have the right knowledge of this wonderful art in the absence of a true Guru who himself practices and has mastered the art, who is virtuous, pure in conduct.
