Worldly life is a mix of joy and sorrow. This underlying fact pertains to all, regardless of
status, birth, scholarship, wealth, etc. These aspects appear to be of prime importance when engaged in making a living during one’s lifetime. That the
purpose of life is something more than mere worldly attainments is realised only when spiritual stirrings are felt.
Sri Ramakrishna advised people to seek the company of the pious so that the innate spiritual yearning in us is always kept kindled and does not get submerged against the strong winds of worldly desire, said Swami Gautamananda in a lecture.
“Sand and sugar mixed together is the essence of worldly life,” the master would say often. Only with
great skill and aptitude like an ant which sifts out the sugar and leaves the sand aside can one
progress spiritually. Meditation is the key to spiritual
effort, he would reiterate. Meditation is an act of the mind and involves tremendous effort and concentration. The mind acts in far superior ways with its thoughts surpassing even the speed of lightning and maintains a parallel level of activity when the body is engaged in physical doings. It is also clear that seeking solitude is not the solution to
checking the mind’s flow of thoughts. The only recourse is to a determined effort to strive for
control of the mind.
Concentrating on the form of God is one suggestion that can be effective. As in shooting, where one begins to practise by aiming at large objects and gradually inches towards the precise target, in meditation, one starts from a focus on God with a form towards meditation on the formless aspect of the Supreme Brahman.
The young begin to write with big scrawls and then gradually master the art of writing the alphabets
with precision. If the focus on God is maintained, there is little risk of us going off track, even as a ship is safe as long as its compass indicates the direction. The thoughts get scattered even
within the span of a second. So the mind is the most difficult to handle.
Yet it is a powerful instrument that can lead us to God. The greatest Yoga is when the mind is fixed steadfastly on God.
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