Namaste,
In the 4th canto of Bhagavata Purana, there is the story of Daksha Prajapati. Once there was a great sacrifice taking place and all important devatas and brahmanas had gathered there. When the effulgent Daksha entered the sacrificial arena, the entire assembly was illuminated. Influenced by his bodily lustre, as a mark of respect, everyone stood up except Lord Shiva. Daksha felt offended by Shiva and enraged by this act, Daksha Prajapati started to hurl verbal abuses at Shiva calling him one eyed monkey, one who is unclean and lives with ghosts and spirits, one who doesn’t take bath and one who walks naked with ash and snakes around him. He also regretted handing over his gentle & chaste daughter to such a crazy madman, on the request of Brahma. As if this was not enough, in a fit of rage, he also cursed Shiva and left the assembly. Nandi, Shiva’s principle follower, got very angry and counter-cursed Daksha and the brahmanas for tolerating Daksha’s cursing Lord Shiva. It didn’t stop there. Seeing Nandi curse the brahmanas, Brighu muni counter cursed him. All the while, Shiva sat there equipoised throughout the event and finally without saying a word, gets up from the gathering and takes his leave.
Daksha was welcomed by all the devatas and brahmanas except Shiva. Daksha got so affected by this that he didn’t see the respect he received from 99% people assembled, on the contrary, he focused on what was not there and became uncontrollably abusive. This can be compared to a fly and a honey bee. A fly tries to look for a small pile of garbage even in a garden full of flowers filled with nectar. On the other hand, a honey bee tries to look out for a small flower in a garbage dump. Acharyas tell us that conscious practice to be like a honey bee under all circumstances is the spirit which sustains a community and that is the key for a spiritual aspirant to make some real spiritual progress.
Another hindrance on the path of our inner progress and community development are our anarthas काम, कोध, मोह, मद, मात रय, लोभ. Daksha prajapati’s story is very instructive & is a great source of learning on how much damage one can cause when we have a lot of anger inside us and lack the wisdom to control it.
Krishna in Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 verse 62 and 63 tells Arjuna:
धायतो वि षयानुंसः सङ्गसेषूपजायते।
धायतो वि षयानुंसः सङ्गसेषूपजायते।
सङ्गातञायतेकामः कामातोधोऽ भि जायते॥ ६२ ॥
While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.
कोधादव ति समोहः समोहातृ ति वि भमः ।
सृितभंशादिुदनाशो बु दि नाशातणश ति ॥ ६३ ॥
From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.
One must learn from Siva how to control our senses and not react to external situations. This is easier said than done as until one has control over his mind, one cannot control his senses and anarthas. As shared by Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita chapter 6 verse 34
चञलं हि मन: कृ ष पमा थि बलवदढम् ृ ।
तसाहं नि गहं मनेवायो रि व सुदुषरम्॥ ३४ ॥
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.
And Krishna gives a solution in the next verse of Bhagavad Gita 6.35.
शीभगवानुवाच
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुिनरगहंचलम्।
अभासेन तुकौनेय वैरागेण च गृहते॥ ३५ ॥
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.
Hence it is very important to have a suitable spiritual practice such as japa, dhyana as well as sadhu sanga, doing seva and reading scriptures like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita or the Puranas.
In chapter 17 verse 16 Krishna tells:
मन:पसाद: सौमतं मौनमात वि नि गह: ।
भावसंशु दि रि तेततपो मानसमुचते॥ १६ ॥
And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind.
Introspection/reflection is a tool which only human beings have. One can reflect on the ongoings of the mind for about 10-15 minutes as a daily practice just before retiring to bed. We can watch emotions, thoughts & feelings that crossed it. We can take note of our reaction patterns and by contemplation and practice over a period of time one stands a better chance to develop the ability to keep it under check.
Iti Shubham
Muneet Dhiman