By: Shreepal Singh
All humans are same but their thoughts make them different. Thoughts do not remain thoughts, they translate into actions. The leading thinkers of the western world, since the Classical Times (days of Plato, Arestotal etc.) to Renaissance and even now in 21st century, have been fascinated with the idea of equality of all humans. The institution of democracy invented by the west is founded on the corner stone of this idea.
In the physical anatomy all humans are similar but it is not this anatomy that they are made-up of. The life goes below and above this anatomy, of which now our scienrce is well aware. The domain of physical anatomy of life goes to its very bottom, that is, the life of animals having only one cell, and founded on its DNA..
All life in its biological foundation shares some basic and similar working principles but still this life interacts with the outside world of its environment in different ways. In its action in the outside world, life is not similar. It is not equal, it is different.
Life rising above its anatomy too is not similar. In humans, there are thoughts, which are an extention of life. This extention of life above anatomy does not end at thoughts; there are dimensions of life which are much beyond thoughts and our science – psychology and para-psychology – is making stride into this new branch of knowledge.
Humans have thoughts and that makes them different from one another. It is not necessary that a thought would find a place in the head of one person only. A thought – an idea – may grip the minds of a large group of people.
Thoughts or ideas may be dangerous – sometimes most dangerous. If they are translated into action, they may destroy a large number of human beings; in this atomic age they may destroy even the entire humanity – and along with humanity all life on earth. Such is the power of thoughts.
The most disquietening thing today in this advanced scientific age is the fact that our world is mostly dominated – and is run – by thoughts and ideas. There are innocent ideas; there are dangerous ideas; there are complex ideas – and simple ideas, the ideas that are political, economic, religious, emotional in nàture. There are all sorts of ideas and they compete with each other to dominate and subdue the rival ones. It is voletile situation.
Suppose, a dangerous religious idea gripping a large number of people gets dominance – say, Islamic idea of killing all those who refuse to convert to its fold! And, suppose they come to hold atomic weapons to fulfil their – this – idea into action! It is not far fatched supposition; it is a reality already existing. Anyone with sane mind can visualize the catastrophe that it would bring to entire humanity.
How to get out of the realm of ideas – all ideas? How to become sane in our actions? Is there any way?
Yes, an ancient knowledge that India has preserved since ages has a solution.
There is a science of “controlling – and even stopping” thoughts, thoughts of all kinds. Wow!
It is known as “Yoga” and the very opening sentence of “Yoga Sutra” (of ancient sage Patanjli) describes this science dealing with “Chitta Vritti Nirodh” – that is, controlling or taming the propensity – habit – of our mind.
One cannot – and should not try to – control one’s thoughts, which look to us as our own thoughts but are not so in their origin. It is an intricate science, which has its own safety rules. The first thing in this science is to prepare yourself – physically and mentally – ready, willing and capable to control your thoughts. It is the most appropriate point at this stage to inform the reader that the purpose of “controlling thoughts” etc. is not to control them for the sake of control. The purpose is something else, and very sublime in nature, and it is out of context to dwel on the same here.
To prepare oneself, one has to commence with the change in one’s way of life and thinking. How? The first thing is to practice “Yam”. What is Yam? 1. Ahimsa – that is, commiting no violence against any life. 2. Satya – that is, always speaking truth. 3. Asteya, that is, not to covet, not to steal, not to take what does not belong to you. 4. Brahmcharya, that is, abstaining from sex. 5. Aparigrah, that is, not to hoard or keep with you more than what is ethically required. These are the rules of Yam. Then, there are next steps with their associated rules: Niyam; Aasan; Pranayam; Dharna; Dhyan; Samadhi. All these have elaborate rules, which need to be observed for your own safety. It is obvious that all these rules are not the matter of mental thinking but a matter of practicing them in life. They are the rules of conduct. If practiced in conduct, they bring a radical change in one’s thoughts. Still, observing these rules of conduct is just the first step towards “controlling” one’s thoughts (Chitta Vritti Nirodh) – there are yet many more and subtle measures, like Niyam, Aasan, Prztyahar, Dharna, Dhyan, Samadhi etc. All these measures when mastered by one, make him / her the master of one’s complete self, including quieting one’s all thoughts. In Samadhi you have no thoughts whatsoever but a peaceful consciousness of your existance. Humanity needs to know this science in this age of atomic bombs.
Let the humanity learn this science – for the sake of its own good and welfare in the face of dangerous ideas equipped with atomic weapons.