Mind: A Good Servant But A Bad Master September 21,
1970 My friend, you
followed what I told you this morning? I think now you are wide awake? Yes. That’s all
right. Thank God. There is no question of disappointment. Do as you're told and
you'll succeed wonderfully. And do one thing at a time. Don’t leave the world
and go to the jungle, to deserted places to pass your days. Remain in the
world. Swimming can be learned places to only, not on dry land. Don’t you think
so? You must remain in water only, not on dry land. Don’t you think so? You
must remain in the world; develop physically, intellectually, and also
spiritually. Develop all around. And do one thing at a time. You’ve started
from today. You took my words to your heart, didn’t you? I tried to. There's no
question of trying. To try means not doing. If a learned man says, try, try, “
even he won't do it. Say yes or no. You’ll do it. “I'll do it, I must do it!”
you see? “Trying” means polite way of saying, “no, I won't do it.” if you want
to do it, you'll do it. When you have decided you have come to the right
conclusion that we should develop all around, physically, intellectually, and
spiritually, you'll devote time to those things. What do you do
when mind is in control though? For mind control
you have been given a definite way. For concentration there is no high-road.
The only way is to concentrate, concentrate, and concentrate. In due course it
will come. When I joined the government service, I was not accustomed to
chairs. I could not sit on a chair continuously for an hour, I tell you. When I
was initiated I used to sit for twelve hours regularly. And at one time I
Satguru for thirty six hours continuously, without a break. So this is a habit.
If your mind wants something, that’s all right. Put in one hour, two hours,
three hours, four hours, and clarify what you want. If you want something, put
in time; out of twenty four hours, eight hours, ten hours, and twelve hours.
You should also develop further spiritually. Does it appeal to you? Then do it.
After all, you have to leave learn to rise above it, and then no sting of death
is there. One can say, “O death, where is thy sting?” the last enemy that we
have to conquer is death. How to conquer it? No escape. Then learn to die. This
is a way, which gives some demonstration the very first day, for a while,
before it is too late. And by regular practice you can do it. Does what I'm
saying appeal to you? Common sense. Then do it, please. When you go home
progress before you go. If you do it, you'll be sure to progress before you go.
If you do it, you'll be sure to progress. Did you sit for meditation during the
day after that? May be just
fifteen to twenty minutes because we were outside. All right. If
there is any difficulty, I can understand. Just say a little prayer, to make an
atmosphere, and then sit down. It will help. I find I've
been up and down with my mind belong to you, or do you belong to the mind? The
mind gets strength from you. If somebody’s servant catches you by the ears and drags
you by the leg, then? Do you approve, do you appreciate it? So the mind is your
servant, like fire it is a good servant but a bad Master, you see. I won't let
you go unless you progress. You were telling me, “I'm going this morning.” Why?
I'll ask the government not to let you go from here, that’s all can do. You're
same man –I'm talking to you as man to man, as a friend, as a sympathizer. You
say you cannot do it? Just obey. If you listen literally to what I say, you'll
say that you are progressing. That’s why I want you to have regular recourse.
You are progressing. That’s why I want you to have regular recourse. You should
eat what you are given at the regular times; there's nobody to meet you, no
correspondence, nothing of the sort. I think with one or two or three months
training the mind will be all right. It is not difficult, only setting the
habit. Would you like I should not let you go? Yes. Then it's all
right. You have come here, spending so much money, only for that reason –you
have come here not for any excursion –then make the best use of it. I would like it
very much. I wish to like
it. If you like it, who stands in the way? Who is there? Your servant mind,
that’s all I can say, God, will help you. It's as definite a way as two and two
make four. In the beginning naturally a man has to accustom himself by
regularity. What we do today, tomorrow, for ten days, fifteen days, the mind
will go there naturally. So regularly like that pays. Wholly and solely do one
thing at a time. Now you say it is like that; later you'll say, “Oh it is all
right.” |