23 July 2025
Wednesday
People of yore enjoyed peace and happiness a thousand-fold compared to the present generation. They were selfless, egoless, and simple. They always had liberation as the goal of their lives. To enjoy the same kind of peace and joy, we must strive to foster humanism first. Mind plays a prominent role in the life of man. Mind keeps on playing tricks with humanity. It can do good and bad. It is the cause for sorrow as well as happiness. Mind is both negative and positive. The principle of the mind is the most important thing that man must know about. It is the needle-like thorn that gives pain; and it is the same needle that removes the thorn. It is fire that dispels darkness and cooks food. It is the same fire that burns and destroys things. Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh (The mind alone is responsible for both bondage and liberation). It is the mind that is responsible for all our joys, sorrows, sins, merits, good or bad. We must try to understand the traits of the mind, and we must strive to take hold of it.
From Swami’s discourse of 12 January 1984
People of yore enjoyed peace and happiness a thousand-fold compared to the present generation. They were selfless, egoless, and simple. They always had liberation as the goal of their lives. To enjoy the same kind of peace and joy, we must strive to foster humanism first. Mind plays a prominent role in the life of man. Mind keeps on playing tricks with humanity. It can do good and bad. It is the cause for sorrow as well as happiness. Mind is both negative and positive. The principle of the mind is the most important thing that man must know about. It is the needle-like thorn that gives pain; and it is the same needle that removes the thorn. It is fire that dispels darkness and cooks food. It is the same fire that burns and destroys things. Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh (The mind alone is responsible for both bondage and liberation). It is the mind that is responsible for all our joys, sorrows, sins, merits, good or bad. We must try to understand the traits of the mind, and we must strive to take hold of it.