Session86 Abhyasa, a Means to Besteady the Mind Part 1

Abhyāsa:
1.Certain means mentioned by the science and philosophy of yoga to be-steady the mind is abhyāsa. Not any and every effort can be abhyāsa. Abhyāsa is a technical word.
2.We are normally dvised to have “a positive mind” as against a negative mind. Can be a good vs. bad mind; a virtuous vs. vicious mind.
3.Yoga advises that one must have a ‘quiet mind’. We need means and measures to acquire a quiet mind. A disquiet mind is an intrinsic condition. Therefore, we need to have means to not have a disquiet mind. It is a difficult proposition to make the mind quiet. However, we can certainly revoke the mind from a dis-quiet state.
4.Reasons for an unsteady mind: desires, aspirations, wants. This is because of limited resources but unlimited wants. Anxiety about an uncertain future. This curiosity about the future is experienced by each and every person. Life is a roller-coaster ride of spikes of expected and unexpected successes and failures of our own efforts; honours and dishonours.
5.In social set-up we establish relationships where we get and receive re-actions. Mystic poet: We are all busy reacting (pratikriyā) rather than acting (karma). This creates unsteadiness in the mind. Need to look at it pragmatically and intellectually.
6.Philosophy has the approach to objectively look at the cause behind the unsteadiness.
7.Samādhi (restraint) is an inherent quality of citta. This shows that yoga is a probability. Though it is difficult, but not impossible. There are means for it. Though they are not like a mechanical switch. Unsteady mind is like a forward gear of the vehicle of life. To change this, we would need to go in reverse gear. For this, we would first have to come to neutral gear at least for a moment before going reverse.
8.If not a yogic process, then, perhaps, some tranquilisers will do the job. But this would be a pseudo-condition of passivity.
9.Hence for vairāgya, we will need abhyāsa as the means. The two processes are intertwined.
10.Everyone needs relationships in life. No relationship can be without some element of love or loath or, perhaps both. Without liking, no relationship can thrive. So, likes and dislikes will spike the mind.
11.In the light of life, we do things even if it is not our choice. There is a constant doing, not-doing, undoing process.
12.There is no non-doing even for a moment (B.G).
13.We practice yoga because we ‘like’ it. Rarely it is coerced. If we practice because we ‘like’, it is not the correct means.

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