The Power Within

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

When we analyze our lives, we find that to live a life of fulfillment there must be two basic abilities. One is involvemental in nature. We have to go ahead with life, getting involved in whatever is necessary from time to time. For this, we must have the necessary attitude, inspiration, compulsion and many other things. The net result of all this is an involvemental phase. We must be ready to take up whatever we are expected to do and get involved in it with full dedication and sincerity.

The other is the ability and readiness to withdraw from any involvement and remain peaceful and quiet. Whatever comes or goes, the march of life cannot stop. So, to keep the stability and peace, often the mind will require withdrawal. We must be able to do both, easily and harmoniously. Then alone, we may hope to live a life of fulfillment and peace. And such a life will be beneficial to the world at large.

Dear N, you are very young and you have a long life ahead. To live a good and effective life, you will need clear direction and guidance from time to time. Whenever in doubt, look into your own heart. I am using the word ‘heart’ to distinguish it from ‘mind’. It is the mind that produces confusions and doubts. Look into a level much deeper than the so-called mind. Look deep within and from there seek or demand whatever direction or clarity you want.

“I am not able to do the task; but I must do it. I am not having the necessary inspiration or motivation; but I must have it. Yes, I will have it. May I have it.”  — Use any language you like, but say it in a very earnest and humble manner.

Similarly, we will have to withdraw from many things whenever needed. If our concern and anxiety cannot serve any purpose, if our involvement is only going to trouble our mind, the mind must be able to withdraw itself and remain restful. This restfulness is also possible. Tell yourself: “Why am I not able to withdraw my mind from this? Why can’t I forget the situation? Why is this haunting me? I must win over this entanglement.”

When you are thus tormented, look into your own heart and get the necessary redress. Whether you put it in the manner of a prayer or submission, or you think in terms of a resolution or demand — it makes little difference. The result is the same. If you believe in God, you can pray:  “Oh God, give me the necessary inspiration. Let my mind withdraw.” But if you don’t like to pray or you don’t believe in God, you can as well believe in your own mind or its master, maker and ruler.

So, look into your heart, the deeper level of your mind, and from there bring forth whatever you want. I said the other day: “When the summer becomes very severe, sometimes the well goes dry. What do we do? We deepen the well and get little more water.” Similarly, you have to dig out a deeper and loftier dimension from your mind. Understand that the mind has got enormous dimensions. Never feel defeated. Never be subdued by fear. Always have confidence. Even when no help is forthcoming from anywhere outside, and you feel deserted, some invisible help will come, deliver the redress and disappear in the same manner as it appeared!

You may wonder as to how this happens. Is not the entire world like this? The entire visible universe has come from nowhere and nothing. From nowhere and nothing all these things have manifested. So, within that, when the necessity arises, an invisible process can result in a visible help and it can also disappear. Understand this well.

The mind has got great power. Mind is the instrument by which you access the invisible Supreme Reality. You cannot access it with your eyes or your body. With the mind alone you can commune with the invisible, because the mind itself is resting on the invisible Self.

Do not be unduly assailed by doubt. Whenever doubt comes, give it back to the doubt-maker and He will resolve it. Whenever you lack inspiration or direction, look into your own heart and seek, or demand. You will find your redress.

Whether you are praying with humility or demanding with confidence, it makes no difference. Whatever tune or tone suits your personality, you may adopt. But you have to be sincere and earnest. Your yearning must have the intensity. Then you will always find that the direction and the strength do come. Never lose heart. Never lose confidence in life.

Life is always dear – whether you are surrounded with pleasant things or with unpleasant ones. There is a lot of dearness in life. If nothing, the mind can produce any degree of contentment and peace. It may not give you other things, but it will give you joy and contentment. It can also give you peace and  ‘quietitude’. To generate and bestow these, the mind needs no other agency or help.

You carry such an infinitely potent mind. Never fail to recognize this great potency of the mind. We call it mind, but actually it is a projection or expression of the Self, the Supreme Reality, which has created and which is preserving this great endless Universe. It is not a small thing. Man is great, because he has such a greatly potent mind.

Harih Om Tat Sat.