Mind--Its Mysteries and Control - The Divine Life Society

MIND—ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL
Apperception
Apperception is the mind’s perception of itself as a conscious agent. The principle of
apperception is just like a mail clerk of consciousness receiving, sorting out, correlating, arranging,
pigeon-holing, associating and sending out messages.
HOW TO UNFOLD THE LATENT POWERS OF MIND
There are many higher mental faculties latent in man. Mind is a magazine of power. The
unfoldment of these latent, psychic powers is possible through proper Sadhana. The Sadhana
should be systematic, constant and intense. The student also must have reached the proper stage of
development. There must be genuine Sraddha also. Then only sanguine success is possible.
Chapter 9
THE THREE DOSHAS
Milk is agreeable to some and disagreeable to others. There is nothing wrong with the milk
itself. Surely, there is something wrong with the mind. Doubtless, there is a defect in the mind. The
view of a child when it sees its mother is that she is its supporter, nourisher and giver of all comforts.
The husband of the woman regards her as an object of enjoyment. A tiger, when it sees the same
woman, regards her as its prey. The object, woman, remains the same. The viewpoint differs in
these three cases owing to the Dosha of the mind.
Dosha means fault or defect. Mala (impurity), Vikshepa (tossing), Avarana (veil of
ignorance) are the threefold defects of the mind.
The mind is tossed about among objects of love and hatred like a light feather in a stormy
wind. It ever whirls far and wide in vain among sensual objects away from the association with the
wise, like a strolling city dog; but, no results accrue therefrom. This baneful mind whirls at the sight
of its much-coveted immense wealth. This ferocious dog of mind, following its mate of desire, ever
preys upon poor, ignorant worldlings as on carcasses. It will flit in a moment from Howrah to Paris
and from Colombo to Berlin. Not resting on any object firmly, it is characterised by an excessive
fluctuating power. It will fluctuate and be confused, will flit away from an object and then return to
it, will rejoice in vain and be intoxicated with Ahankara. A mind becomes a prey to fear through its
fluctuation.
The mind should be rendered fit for salvation, fit to approach its Adhishthana (substratum),
its father, Brahman. Remove the three Doshas.
Mala (such as Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya) is removed by doing
Nishkama Karma. Mala means sin also.
37