In fact, they are wise who know that the secret of success is concentration. Thinking that only yogis need concentration is a big mistake. Concentration is essential for every person whatever his vocation. Concentration is seen to develop inherently in artisans such as blacksmiths, barbers, carpenters, goldsmiths, and weavers. If the blacksmith misses the target as he strikes with the hammer, even lightly, there is a chance of crushing his hand. If the barber’s razor slips, there is a possible danger of cutting the skin and bleeding. If the carpenter doesn’t have a good grip on his chisel, he will lose his toe. The work of a goldsmith is undoubtedly very skilful.
Weavers can produce good quality clothing only if they care to keep their eyes on the looms. But none of these people practiced concentration after reading a book or listening to a lecture. The situation created by the demands of their professions has forced them to cultivate concentration. What could that situation be? It is the risk of a disaster occurring with the slightest error in his works. All of the aforementioned are on the verge of danger while on the job. Hence they have to work very diligently and attentively, restraining their minds. With this they would have obtained a form of concentration related to their own occupations. Not only this, there are countless examples where it can be traced that this type of concentration has been passed down from generation to generation. For example, among apprentices learning blacksmithing at ITI, a boy from a blacksmith’s family is seen to excel in the art.
This applies equally to all other vocations. It is quite rare for one to possess skill in a new trade. Based on the above observations, we come to know the fact that concentration is achieved through continuous effort. This was also Lord Krishna’s reply to Arjuna’s question: practice results in perfection. And he may have heard “practice makes the perfect man” – what was Arjuna’s query?
“Krishna, the mind is very fickle; it is incessantly restless. It is also powerful. To keep it under control is tantamount to catching the wind. How, then, can one control such a fickle mind?” Lord Krishna replies, “What to say is true, Arjuna. It is a fact that the mind is restless. It is true that keeping it under control is not an easy task. But he hears this important revelation:
It is equally true that even such a fickle mind can be controlled by the force of CONSTANT PRACTICE and detachment. Arjuna’s question is quite natural and equally simple is Lord Krishna’s answer. The problem of restlessness of the mind is not something new; it is as old as man himself. However, due to the immoral and undisciplined way of life prevailing today, it might have increased to a certain degree. In fact, Arjuna was a brave and upright man. If the mind of such a man could be erratic, what to speak of the mental instability of indulgent, pleasure-seeking humanity today.
Those who endeavor to control the mind must first of all clearly understand the nature of the mind with which they wish to fight. The mind is as restless as a monkey and as strong as an intoxicated elephant. To control it, as Arjuna said, is to catch like the wind. To regulate the mind, one needs the skill to catch monkeys and train elephants.
When Arjuna complained that controlling the mind was very difficult, Lord Krishna did not take it lightly and said, “For someone like you, who has subdued the most heroic warriors, how difficult is it to control the mind?” that, after all, yours? You should be able to handle it however you want.” But instead, understanding the gravity of the problem, he says he sympathetically. “What you say is true Arjuna.” That the mind is fickle and that regulating it is very difficult are both true.” The reason Lord Krishna says this is because he knew the nature of the mind.
Every animal and thing on earth has a different disposition to blow is the nature of the wind.
Burning is the nature of fire.
Flowing is the nature of water, likewise
To stick your nose everywhere
jump madly
wish whimsically
Think of thousands of things at once
To worry about a flaunt of worries
To build castles in the air
Worrying for all simple reasons and any other work than the one assigned is the nature of the mind.
With an environment that tends to provoke the naturally restless mind, what can be done but dance to it? Therefore, those who wish to control their minds should stay away from distracting surroundings. This does not mean that we have to leave the city, but only that the mind should not mix with the environment. How do you do this? Here comes the role of the five sense organs.
eyes
Ears
nose
Language
Fur.
These are called as the vehicles of the mind. Its nature is as follows
eyes – to see
ears – to hear
nose to smell
Tongue to taste
skin to touch
As soon as the eyes see something beautiful, the mind jumps right into it. Thus the senses keep pulling the mind in all directions. Therefore, it is required to keep the senses in check by applying the intellect. This implies not seeing what should not be seen; do not eat what should not be eaten; not do what should not be done. Doing this is called “Lady” in Sanskrit. The mind can flow wherever it wants, also independently, without the help of the sense organs. In such cases, the mind must be recovered by the application of intelligence. This direct method of keeping the mind balanced is called “Shama” in Sanskrit. After coming to know so many details about the mind and its concentration, some may ask, “After all, what is the need to keep the mind in check? A correct answer to this must be known. The answer is simply this: if one’s mind is under one’s own control, great goals can be achieved through it, whereas if it is not, it becomes very difficult to do even the simplest of tasks.Truly, the mind is endowed with a force tremendous and demonic.That is why Swami Vivekananda said, “Strength is life and weakness is death.”
However, many appear to be mentally weak at times or throughout their lives. The reason is that his mental energies have been dissipated indiscriminately. Not everyone is aware that the sun’s rays have the power to ignite fire. Why don’t they know? The reason is that they would not have seen the sun’s rays creating fire and burning things. But when the same rays pass through a convex lens or magnifying glass in a concentrated manner and are struck on paper, they can burn the paper. How did lightning acquire this power? It was the result of converging, and therefore “concentrated”. Previously they scattered in different directions. Therefore, even if they could produce heat, they could not burn. But after concentrating, they could produce burning fire. This is a secret. There is remarkable power in our minds, intrinsically. Since this energy is spent on all sorts of necessary and unnecessary matters, we are incapable of doing anything but the most ordinary things. If great things are to be accomplished, then the distracted energies of the mind must be channeled. This can be done only when our mind is under its own control.
But how can the mind be called ours if it is madly exhausted, without realizing it? The mind that has immersed itself in sensual things, accepting the invitation of the sense organs, is definitely not ours. How can we make a mind that is not our own work as we want?
The first thing our sages of yore achieved through constant efforts was mental balance by bringing the mind under their control. And when that mind was made to concentrate, it enabled them to discover the greatest yogic secrets. He brought them nothing less than Divine knowledge. As Swami Vivekananda says: “A concentrated mind is really a searching light. A searching light allows us to see even objects that are in a dark and distant corner. Well, it is true that the mind has to be made to concentrate, but what should the concentration be? they have ventured to become yogis. It also cannot be said that the mind should be concentrated on God because not everyone is a devotee. How about saying that the mind should be concentrated on the lessons? But then, not everyone is a child or goes to school Therefore, it would be more appropriate to say that each individual has to personally choose his or her particular object of concentration, but here we will discuss how students should concentrate their minds on studies.
