SPIRITUAL SOLUTION TO MONASTIC PROBLEMS II Purity of Mind

SPIRITUAL SOLUTION TO MONASTIC PROBLEMS

BANERSHAR SHIVA LINGA

living beings. The second one is a form of delusion (moha) caused by ignorance. As the Mahabharata verse quoted by Shankara states: "O käma, I know your root; you arise from the operation of the Will (Sankalpa). If the Will is withdrawn, you will not arise." Kām can rise in the mind only if the 'Will' is weak. The central principle in the observance of Brahmacharya is to maintain a basic, pure, strong, silent Will (mülasamkalpa) which will not allow any bad thought to enter the sanctum of the heart.

Purity of Mind

The most important principle of monastic life is the maintenance of absolute purity of mind. The purity of the mind is more important than austerities and Vairagya which do not often touch the soul. The Gita speaks of two means of attaining purity. One is knowledge (see Gita 4.36-38)काम! जानामि ते मूल, संकल्पात किल जायसे, etc--Quoted by Shankara on Gita 6.4

and the other is Divine grace (Gita 9.30-31). The

Ma Bhabatarini (Kali)

best means of attaining purity of mind is to pray intensely and sincerely to God. In the small book in Bengali Swami Saradanandajir upadesh it is narrated that once an old monk told Revered Saradanandaji Maharaj in Kashi Sevashram that even in his old age he was unable to control bad thoughts. Saradanandaji told him: "Pray intensely to Thakur. There is no other way." Divine grace can bring about thorough and lasting purification of mind in no time which years of personal the struggle may not achieve.

Another means of attaining purity is to cultivate Self-knowledge. The Atman is self-luminous, ever pure, ever blissful, untouched by impurities. By identifying himself with the Atman, by constantly thinking of himself as the luminous Self, a monk can attain absolute purity. This is a central teaching of Swamiji.

Problem of Adjustment

When people with different temperaments and socio-cultural background

Sri Sarada Devi

live together, problems of adjustment are bound to rise, Harsh words and rach reactions only make the problems worth The principle of harmony and divine love that Thakur lived and taught provide the spiritual the solution to these problems of adjustment. Thakur taught four main types of harmony, namely, the harmony of religions, the harmony of yogas, harmony of cultures and harmony of individuals, as regards harmony of individuals, Thakur taught the principle of unity in diversity He taught Holy Mother the following principle of adjustment: "While dealing with a situation, adjust yourself according to its conditions. While dealing with a person, adjust yourself according to his temperament." By following this principle in different fields of community life we gain inner strength and maturity. Revered Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj has defined maturity as "the ability to live in harmony with one's seniors, with one's equals and with one's juniors."