I recently wrote: Power-cut and a sudden darkness I got up and lighted a candle What’s wrong with darkness in mind Why I find it so difficult to handle? Can you tell me why?
From India, Pune
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8From India, Pune
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It is not the darkness from which we are fearing. We are fearing the unknown. When there is light, we can see and judge where we are, what we are doing, and what is coming to us. We can make a judgment or decision. But when there is darkness and nothing is visible, then we are in the unknown state. We do not know what is coming to us. We do not know who is watching us, and we do not know who is standing in front of us. Then we become who we really are. If we are ordinary people, we start fearing, make negative imaginations in our minds, and start feeling fear. If we are saints or in a higher state, there is no unknown, only trust, so there is no fear.
I think this is the answer to your question.
Veryniceguy (who shares good things)
From India, New Delhi
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I think this is the answer to your question.
Veryniceguy (who shares good things)
From India, New Delhi
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Dear very nice guy,
You are much better than perhaps what you think! Excellent reply, indeed worth sharing with all. So, in a nutshell, what you are telling us is that one needs to burn the candle of faith and trust to make the darkness go away. Bravo! Keep it up. You will go a long way, god bless!
From India, Pune
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You are much better than perhaps what you think! Excellent reply, indeed worth sharing with all. So, in a nutshell, what you are telling us is that one needs to burn the candle of faith and trust to make the darkness go away. Bravo! Keep it up. You will go a long way, god bless!
From India, Pune
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u do not have the practice to stay in dark or in other words lack of practice to stay in dark or sense of uneasiness.
From Sweden,
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From Sweden,
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Assuming that each one of us has a good side and an evil side, the darkness of mind can be twofold: One - the evil side (dark side) of us, and Two - darkness of ignorance. I am further assuming that you are referring to the darkness of ignorance and not the evil side.
There is a phrase in Sanskrit - Agnyanaandhakaram - meaning the darkness of ignorance. In Bhagavad Gita, this darkness is termed as darker than the darkest substance in the universe.
The darkness of mind (that of ignorance) is the hardest kind of darkness to remove. Why? The only light that can distance this darkness is the Light of Knowledge. The Light of Knowledge, again, is twofold. One, the knowledge itself, and second is the wisdom coming from the deeper understanding of such knowledge. "When intelligence matures, and lodges securely in mind, it becomes wisdom" (C. Rajagopalacharya).
Why is it so difficult to bring the Light of Knowledge into the mind? What is the knowledge we are talking about?
To bring the light of knowledge takes work - a lot of work. Knowledge, here, is the knowledge of the physical self (I, me, etc., and Jeevatma in spiritual terms), and the knowledge of Self (the Supreme Soul or Paramatma in spiritual terms). To bring in the true knowledge of self (me, I), it takes knowing about ourselves, questioning ourselves, knowing the good side and bad side of ourselves, admitting to ourselves our strengths, and more importantly, our weaknesses and shortcomings. Beyond that, it also entails making a conscious effort to expand our strengths and good side, and marginalizing our weaknesses and bad side.
While most of us admit that everyone has good and bad in them, as a natural human tendency, we tend to first see only the bad side in others and only the good side in ourselves. Seeing (and admitting to ourselves) the bad side in us and making a concrete effort to change the bad side in us takes real (moral) character and tremendous inner strength. Once we possess that strength and gain the knowledge of ourselves, we get halfway across in bringing the light of knowledge. If you are not spiritual at all, then you are all the way there. If you are spiritual, then the remaining half is to gain the knowledge and understanding of the Supreme Self.
Again, not gaining the knowledge of the Supreme Self is not the end of the world (and does not mean you are any less of a human being). If you just attempt to gain that part of the knowledge, you are better than most of us. As is said in the Bhagavad Gita (and adapted to the current world population numbers), "Among millions of people, somewhere in some corner, one person attempts to know the Supreme Self. Among those who attempt to know the Supreme Self, only a handful is destined to learn the truth about the Supreme Self and gain complete knowledge". Therefore, the fact that you even attempted to know puts you in a different plane (making you one in a million). Even if you gain a tiny bit of such knowledge, you are better off than most of us. If you gained full knowledge, then there would be a shrine built for you and you would be named Buddha (or someone similar).
Hope that explains why it is difficult to handle the darkness of mind. The simple answer is, it is not easy to bring the light of knowledge that distances/removes the darkness of mind.
Thanks,
-Som G
From United States, Woodinville
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There is a phrase in Sanskrit - Agnyanaandhakaram - meaning the darkness of ignorance. In Bhagavad Gita, this darkness is termed as darker than the darkest substance in the universe.
The darkness of mind (that of ignorance) is the hardest kind of darkness to remove. Why? The only light that can distance this darkness is the Light of Knowledge. The Light of Knowledge, again, is twofold. One, the knowledge itself, and second is the wisdom coming from the deeper understanding of such knowledge. "When intelligence matures, and lodges securely in mind, it becomes wisdom" (C. Rajagopalacharya).
Why is it so difficult to bring the Light of Knowledge into the mind? What is the knowledge we are talking about?
To bring the light of knowledge takes work - a lot of work. Knowledge, here, is the knowledge of the physical self (I, me, etc., and Jeevatma in spiritual terms), and the knowledge of Self (the Supreme Soul or Paramatma in spiritual terms). To bring in the true knowledge of self (me, I), it takes knowing about ourselves, questioning ourselves, knowing the good side and bad side of ourselves, admitting to ourselves our strengths, and more importantly, our weaknesses and shortcomings. Beyond that, it also entails making a conscious effort to expand our strengths and good side, and marginalizing our weaknesses and bad side.
While most of us admit that everyone has good and bad in them, as a natural human tendency, we tend to first see only the bad side in others and only the good side in ourselves. Seeing (and admitting to ourselves) the bad side in us and making a concrete effort to change the bad side in us takes real (moral) character and tremendous inner strength. Once we possess that strength and gain the knowledge of ourselves, we get halfway across in bringing the light of knowledge. If you are not spiritual at all, then you are all the way there. If you are spiritual, then the remaining half is to gain the knowledge and understanding of the Supreme Self.
Again, not gaining the knowledge of the Supreme Self is not the end of the world (and does not mean you are any less of a human being). If you just attempt to gain that part of the knowledge, you are better than most of us. As is said in the Bhagavad Gita (and adapted to the current world population numbers), "Among millions of people, somewhere in some corner, one person attempts to know the Supreme Self. Among those who attempt to know the Supreme Self, only a handful is destined to learn the truth about the Supreme Self and gain complete knowledge". Therefore, the fact that you even attempted to know puts you in a different plane (making you one in a million). Even if you gain a tiny bit of such knowledge, you are better off than most of us. If you gained full knowledge, then there would be a shrine built for you and you would be named Buddha (or someone similar).
Hope that explains why it is difficult to handle the darkness of mind. The simple answer is, it is not easy to bring the light of knowledge that distances/removes the darkness of mind.
Thanks,
-Som G
From United States, Woodinville
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Afterthought:
A dialog between a devotee and Sai Baba of Shirdi (from the movie "Shirdi Ke Sai Baba") comes to my mind.
Devotee: Baba! Is there a God?
Sai Baba: Yes.
Devotee: Then why is God not visible?
Sai Baba: Is there butter in milk?
Devotee: Yes.
Sai Baba: Why don't you see it? Or when do you see it?
Devotee: When you churn the cream.
Sai Baba: God will become visible when you churn the soul.
That, in the spiritual realm, is what it takes to know the Supreme Self. And churning the soul ain't easy!
-SG
From United States, Woodinville
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A dialog between a devotee and Sai Baba of Shirdi (from the movie "Shirdi Ke Sai Baba") comes to my mind.
Devotee: Baba! Is there a God?
Sai Baba: Yes.
Devotee: Then why is God not visible?
Sai Baba: Is there butter in milk?
Devotee: Yes.
Sai Baba: Why don't you see it? Or when do you see it?
Devotee: When you churn the cream.
Sai Baba: God will become visible when you churn the soul.
That, in the spiritual realm, is what it takes to know the Supreme Self. And churning the soul ain't easy!
-SG
From United States, Woodinville
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Dear Som G,
This is just fantastic. What a beautiful way to make one aware of the need to look within! One in a million takes the first step. Well, I am deeply touched by the effort and the wisdom sprinkled. God bless!
Would like to interact more. You may like to visit my blog RAMESH SOOD.
Thanks again for your intervention. It will help a lot of youngsters who are just starting to understand that life is not what it appears.
From India, Pune
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This is just fantastic. What a beautiful way to make one aware of the need to look within! One in a million takes the first step. Well, I am deeply touched by the effort and the wisdom sprinkled. God bless!
Would like to interact more. You may like to visit my blog RAMESH SOOD.
Thanks again for your intervention. It will help a lot of youngsters who are just starting to understand that life is not what it appears.
From India, Pune
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Thank you, Ramesh, for pointing me to your blog. Your note on Soul's Journey Back Home is very interesting. You may want to check the following webpage (click on the link Self-Perfection) written on July 9, 2008, on similar lines.
General Topics <link updated to site home> ( Search On Cite | Search On Google )
Sharing thoughts and views, similar or diverse, expands one's own mind. So, please continue sharing your thoughts.
Regards,
-Som G
[QUOTE: Ramesh Sood;1004242] How great! Do visit my blog as mentioned earlier in the reply. I would love your views on my article "Soul's Journey Back Home." [/QUOTE]
From United States, Woodinville
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General Topics <link updated to site home> ( Search On Cite | Search On Google )
Sharing thoughts and views, similar or diverse, expands one's own mind. So, please continue sharing your thoughts.
Regards,
-Som G
[QUOTE: Ramesh Sood;1004242] How great! Do visit my blog as mentioned earlier in the reply. I would love your views on my article "Soul's Journey Back Home." [/QUOTE]
From United States, Woodinville
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Dear Mr. Ramesh,
I second Mr. Som's thoughts!!
There is complete darkness when we meditate, but we enter into that phase with a firm faith that there is silver light at the end of the tunnel. We, humans, lack this kind of faith. A child might be afraid of darkness because he is unable to see his mother and fears separation. Similarly, a person might be afraid of darkness because of negative experiences like accidents when it was dark, so he gets conditioned to believe that something painful will reappear during darkness. It's also true that mostly people grow up hearing stories about ghosts, demons, and Satan who appear when it's completely dark. This way, one learns to be afraid of the dark. Also, the phobia of darkness is very common among children. So, in a nutshell, there could be many social and psychosocial reasons for it. I believe it's our own imagination that makes a human crippled because of this fear. It's all in our minds, and we have created it to a major extent.
It's the fear of the unknown, as we are not able to see anything, and we lack the belief that this phase is temporary too. It's our inability to be optimistic about the light after darkness. We keep searching for the light or the source of light (happiness and enlightenment) seldom realizing that it's within us only. One has to strive to be enlightened in knowing oneself, Sansar (maya), and the Supreme Divine power in the real sense. The confidence one gains, the peace one feels by knowing oneself truly, is the strength against which no fear can stand!
"To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest."
---
I have corrected the spelling and grammar errors and adjusted the paragraph formatting for better readability. If you need further assistance, feel free to ask.
From India, Vadodara
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I second Mr. Som's thoughts!!
There is complete darkness when we meditate, but we enter into that phase with a firm faith that there is silver light at the end of the tunnel. We, humans, lack this kind of faith. A child might be afraid of darkness because he is unable to see his mother and fears separation. Similarly, a person might be afraid of darkness because of negative experiences like accidents when it was dark, so he gets conditioned to believe that something painful will reappear during darkness. It's also true that mostly people grow up hearing stories about ghosts, demons, and Satan who appear when it's completely dark. This way, one learns to be afraid of the dark. Also, the phobia of darkness is very common among children. So, in a nutshell, there could be many social and psychosocial reasons for it. I believe it's our own imagination that makes a human crippled because of this fear. It's all in our minds, and we have created it to a major extent.
It's the fear of the unknown, as we are not able to see anything, and we lack the belief that this phase is temporary too. It's our inability to be optimistic about the light after darkness. We keep searching for the light or the source of light (happiness and enlightenment) seldom realizing that it's within us only. One has to strive to be enlightened in knowing oneself, Sansar (maya), and the Supreme Divine power in the real sense. The confidence one gains, the peace one feels by knowing oneself truly, is the strength against which no fear can stand!
"To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest."
---
I have corrected the spelling and grammar errors and adjusted the paragraph formatting for better readability. If you need further assistance, feel free to ask.
From India, Vadodara
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Hi Shalini,
Great ! It is so nice to see some discerning minds getting connected through this forum. Let us continue to expand the world of thoughts from which stems the world of reality. And your signature line speaks volumes about you. Nice interacting with you.
Ramesh sood
From India, Pune
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Great ! It is so nice to see some discerning minds getting connected through this forum. Let us continue to expand the world of thoughts from which stems the world of reality. And your signature line speaks volumes about you. Nice interacting with you.
Ramesh sood
From India, Pune
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