The Flow of Thoughts

Guru:

In the garden of the mind, each ‘vritti’ is a sprout,
A blooming thought weaving many tales throughout.

As a garland of many threads, each a fleeting spark,
Purity in each thought brings light into the dark.
If thoughts arise as pure, the mind finds its peace,
Balancing its vacillation, all its turmoil will cease.

Yet, such path is hard as are challenges to overcome!

Sishya:

What stirs these vrittis? From where they all come?

Guru:

Two sources feed the flow: the first is our glance
Of the world that we deal, being caught in a trance!
Then there are the vāsanās, the latent desires deep,
Hidden in the dark, raising as weeds that often creep!

Sishya:

I know, how hard it is to clear off the weeds!
Alas! Who is keep on spraying their seeds!

Guru:

Weeds are the bad thoughts, that you alone seed!
To be in guard and cleansing off is the need!

Clearing the Weeds of Thoughts

Sishya:

But the process of weeding never seems to cease!

Guru:

Yes, but only as long as you fail to seize!

Auditing the mind must be your duty, a rota!
Pruning and weeding forms part of that quota!

Sishya:

In the garden of my mind, I wish to tend with care,
To check on the thoughts and to nurture what is fair.
Negative thoughts are the weeds, I need to pull away,
May I seek the wisdom to guide me the right way.

Is there a course, a method, to refine the mind stream
To nourish the flowers of thoughts, so that they gleam!
Teach me the art of focus, for clarity and light,
May the garden of my mind turn form dark to bright.

Guru:

No direct way to ward off dark thoughts away,
By focusing on the good, let virtues light the way.
Dwelling on kindness, there is no space for the weeds,
When it is kind, mind plants only the pure seeds!

Idle moments invite the vain thoughts to take hold,
So banish all idleness; let your spirit be bold!
When focused on the work, surely mind will thrive,
As fertile garden in which pure thoughts come alive.

Sishya:

When there is nothing else to do, boredom sets to rise,
The wandering of the mind, chasing thoughts like flies!

Watch the Thoughts

Guru:

Then be in the space quiet; here’s a way to be:
Take the seat of the viewer, let your mind roam free.
Remain without a task, just watch the thoughts unfold,
Observe their fleeting nature, both the new and old.

Don’t try to take control, just see them come and go,
In that dispassion shown,a calmness begins to grow!

Sishya:

To simply watch what the mind is showing
Is not a big ask! I can easily be doing!
But what is the use of such lazy purpose!
Or Am I missing some deeper purport!

Guru:

It’s not easy to remain untouched
By the thoughts that all rise like bubbles,
To disown them for staying free
Is a challenge filled with more troubles!

That posture when done, rare and pure,
Marks the start of your journey to the light,
A sign of gaining the mastery, for sure
In the pursuit of what’s right!

It takes a long effort to resist,
As thoughts wrap tight like waves,
Pulling you into their currents straight,
As the mind often misbehaves!

But patience and persistence, will find a clear way
To keep you untouched, treating thoughts with sway.

Paying Attention needs Practice

Sishya:

Why is it sounding so hard at all?
Is not like watching a movie in a hall?

Guru:

That is exactly the issue, don’t you see!
While watching the film, you turn out to be
Someone as if you are the part of the plot
Swayed by the mood of the movie, a lot!

The movie projects an illusory world
On the screen of the mind, a story told
Only because, there is an effulgent light
The consciousness of supreme might!

Sishya:

Is there an use, in just observing thoughts’ flow?

Guru:

You might be surprised to learn, indeed, it’s so!

Like a damsel blushing softly,
When she is aware of being under gaze,
The mind too begins to slowdown
Its dance as if drowned in a haze!

With You see your thoughts, they drift at slower pace,
Your breathing too in tandem, finding calmer space!
So take a moment, try out and see yourself the proof!
In stillness, there is fullness, your are not being aloof!

The Mind and the Breathing

Sishya:

Marvelous Sir!, For sure, I shall explore!
What is the link between the thoughts that race
To sync with, I wonder, the respiratory pace!

Guru:

The rise and fall that the Thought-bubbles partake
Occurs in the mind, the surface of a subtle lake
Being encased in the body gross; in its underneath
As the ‘antakarana’, the subtler inner sheath!

‘Prāna’, the life-energy wraps as a tie to bind
The embodiment into a Being, as we find!
Thus being close, the sheaths have to take
The impact of one onto the other as we make!

Sishya:

What an Insight! In knowing the fact
Thoughts and breathing, as a couple intact!
In breath’s gentle rhythm, thoughts intertwine,
Thoughts regulate the breath, a sacred design.

Guru:

As each inhalation calms the racing heart,
You will find clarity rising, a beautiful art.
With every exhale, expel the weariness away,
In the peaceful embrace, bliss in its way!

Whether you control how the breathing goes
Or attend to see how the thought-flows
May you persist until the fruition in your hand
For the progress towards the most perfect land!

When thoughts and breathing are in sync
You are poised to do what you think!
Then its time, in all what you do
To seek the Seer, that is in you!

Sishya:

Thank you Sir! How grateful I am!
May I share a doubt coming along!
In what I do, how I am going to do
The seeing of my true-Self, that too!

(To be continued….)

Mee. Ra