When the thought waves start in the subconscious mind (Chitta) and goes out through the particular sense and gets in contact with a particular object of that sense, then only we see the outside world. It is called extrovertness of the mind. When the thought waves never go out and inwardly get involved in deciding some particular subject, or contemplating over it, it is called introspection or contemplation or introvertness. So, it is said, an extroverted mind creates the outer world which is nothing but reflection of one’s inner thoughts only. So, we have to always practice not to allow the thought waves to go out freely. We have to control them and allow only a few necessary waves in the beginning. Slowly those waves will be fully introverted and that is otherwise called withdrawal of the mind like a tortoise. This is the only way to concentrate the mind on one point and meditate. One has to be very very careful to watch the mind when it is withdrawn from outside objects. It may slip on to past and future inwardly, which is called worries and Manorajya; that is its habit. So, it should be watched carefully. Just as the thief cannot steal when it is under watch, so also when it is watched, the mind has to be steady. It cannot slip away. Thought for the Month: How to meditate? p It becomes easy by practicing Yama and Niyama. We should have some self-made rules and regulations for the mind, in the beginning, to control the outgoing tendencies of the mind (thought waves) conveniently. Slowly the mind gets habituated to it. This is called Abhyas. This becomes easy if we find fault with sense objects of the outer world, which are subject to change; so momentary only. So, whatever pleasure we get from these objects, that is momentary. This is called finding fault with the sense objects or dispassion towards sense objects. Continuous practice of dispassion makes meditation easier. Outwardly, we are under the sway of time, space and situations. We generally like or invite some situations which are favorable, and we reject some things which are unsuitable. We like something and reject something. This is cause for our pleasure and pain. If we can train ourselves not to reject anything, nor to have liking for something, and keep indifferent towards everything, that helps us to go beyond pleasure and pain. That is how the great wise people live their lives blissfully. May Gurudev bless all to attain this state.

Swami Premanand Saraswati