Death in Hinduism
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Nachiketas’ Tryst With Death
A: Mind control
John Hierl, February 23, 2022: The Times of India
Moksha consists in realising Brahmn as the transcendent essence of everything. Before seeking contemplation on the Supreme Truth, the control of mind is of utmost importance. We may understand what is at stake by taking to heart Yama’s teaching to Nachiketa in the Katha Upanishad 3. 5: ‘When a man lacks understanding and his mind is never controlled, his senses do not obey him – just as wild horses do not obey a charioteer. But when a man has understanding and his mind is ever controlled, his senses obey him. ’ But how are we to face and overcome the problem of a never-ceasing thought stream within the mind in order to realise Truth? Advaita Vedanta text ‘Drig-Drishya-Viveka’, shloka 23, provides us with a hands-on practice: We should meditate and become aware of the Universal Consciousness behind every thought.
‘Thoughts arising in the mind such as desires are the seen. As their witness one should meditate on Consciousness. This is the meditation with duality associated with the seen. ’
The verse provides guidance on how to calm the mind within the initial sadhana stages: We must seek and become identified with the drig, seer, of drishya, all that is seen. The seer is not our ego expressing itself in ‘I’-thoughts but the Atman as our True Self. Non-dual and without any attributes, it can only be found by going within.
The seen is the world of names and objects. It is manifest within us as our thoughts, emotions and sense perceptions. As maya, it is the cause of our samsara. Being of relative appearance, we should never let ourselves become entangled and bound by it. Therefore, the shloka urges the seeker to become the observer of the dreamlike and illusory quality of maya.
Allow thoughts to arise in your mind, but without any mental involvement let them pass. Observe them solely as an event taking place in the mind and it will automatically slow down. You will learn that each thought has a beginning and an end – it is only composed of finite subtle matter. As a consequence, a stillness will arise from within, which is of the Atman. The next step is to expand the moments of quietude and inner contemplation. Keeping your distance to thoughts as they come and go, you will reach a state in which the mind is non-existent. The experience will be of universal timelessness. After all, time is a mental construct experienced as the space between two thoughts. Slowly, you will begin to experience the Atman. With your intuition try to perceive the Eternal Witness to all. Become identified with it.
The benefit of practising this meditation is viveka. In this sadhana, one constantly differentiates between the seen as maya and Truth-Consciousness as its subject and originator. Its effects are purification and control of mind. Even in our daily activities we can willingly take on the position of sakshi, silent witness, at any moment.
Having become adept in viveka, one should eventually let go of duality and aim to transcend the mind altogether. Ultimately, it is the Infinite Self that leads to the experience of Brahmn as the Universal Principle expounded in the Upanishads. God is the purpose of life and it is the experience of this Truth that frees the mind.
