59 - Attaining Atyantikam Sukham with a Steady Mind | Swami Tattwamayananda

The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on November 6, 2020.<br />-6th chapter: verses 19, 20, 21, 22<br />-19th verse: “A lamp placed in a sheltered place does not flicker. Similarly, the mind of a Yogi who has reached the Niruddha state through concentration, is steady and does not waver.”<br />-Vyasa classifies the human mind into five categories: (1) Kshipta (scattered) (2) Mudha (dull) (3) Vikshipta (partially focused) (4) Ekagra (one-pointed) (5) Niruddha (fully focused). Most beginners are in the third stage, where the mind sways like a pendulum. Yoga helps our mind become steady and evolve towards Ekagra and Niruddha state.<br />-Mind goes after objects that senses are attracted to. When it does not get what it desires, it gets bitter and angry and slowly loses its balance. To prevent the mind from wavering, one should have a higher ideal, that keeps the mind and senses employed and directed towards a healthy channel.<br />-It is possible to steady the mind in the midst of daily duties. Anything that distracts the mind should be clubbed together as of lesser importance. While doing worldly duties, one should know that there is something beyond that is of primary significance.<br />-In Vedanta, for a thing to be real, it should satisfy two criteria (1) It should remain without change in the past, present and future – both time and space. (2) It should remain without change in waking, dream and deep sleep states. One should look upon all distractions as part of the changing phenomenon that constitutes the relative. He should keep his mind focused on the Absolute Reality. Then his mind will not waver.<br />-Kathopanishad compares human life to a journey on a chariot. Atman is the traveler on the chariot, body is the chariot, intellect is the driver, mind is the reins, senses are the horses and the sense objects represent the path. Just as horses should not dictate terms to the rider, so also, sense organs should not dictate the terms to the mind.<br />-20th verse: “When the mind is completely controll