Phrase Repetition. It’s healthy mind-washing. Strengths will accrue.

Mantra repetition for long periods. It lifts the mind, it lightens grief. The Mantra Habit. (Sanskrit – Japa).

To control the mind means the control of everything, no more shocks.

In total calm, only on the out-breath, say one, for 20 minutes:

Be Calm – I’m Alive – Purity – Harmony – Patience – Humility – I Am That – Clarity – Find Strength – This Body Will Go – Stay Positive – Remove Conflict – Wisdom (Sound Judgement) – I Am Here, What Joy!

The ultimate sound – Aumm (‘jaw’) or Omm.

When concentrating on saying the words, the mind is held on their edifying meaning and is prevented from going down into the emotions (where the pain may be). The uplifting words strengthen the mind which slowly sees the emotions differently – a lightening. This will also remove worry from the mind – the edifying words keep the mind off the worry. The issue with the worry is still there but your ‘worry emotion’ has vanished.

To lighten grief. 

If a mother has lost her child, this deepest grief needs to be lightened. It will take years of repetition. But start! If you are sincere, you will feel the first, smallest lightening effect in days. In 1 year you will be managing this loss. And you have achieved this mind-control entirely by yourself.

Keep returning, whenever distracted –

Where the mantra has several phrases – first, read the words slowly 5 times. Concentrate on the meanings each time. Pause often. Let this sink in. Repeat until the word order becomes locked in the correct sequence. Now it has been memorised.

Then develop its rhythm. Repeat it while walking (level surface) – the rhythm is formed when a step starts each line/phrase, practise inside. Then take your first walk for 40 minutes (or more) and do not allow distractions to enter – focus deeply on each meaning and the rhythm. You will feel a new lightness afterwards. Now you can create this lightness whenever you wish – take a walk! But beware of distractions – they can ruin a promising walk. Always return when distracted. Every return weakens the distraction. Every return, every start at sitting still weakens those old negative habits. Keep returning! Stay sincere.

With frequent repetition – the words have a seeping effect and lift the attitude, over the months. In grief, the mind no longer wallows in the sorrow. Successful brain-washing.

Now you have learnt to recognise your own rhythm, from heart beat, breathing, gait, phrases. Until this rhythm is felt you haven’t reached the correct level for the benefits. You see it’s a distraction which delays reaching that balanced rhythm.

Oh Mind –

            Remove confusion,

            Remove delusion,

            Find clarity.

            Be calm!

            See the Pure!

Strengths will accrue. Clarity replaces confusion. Sit still and dwell on that (daily). You change. You will learn to take and enjoy this walk even in the pouring rain.

MASTERY (East) vs. MORE KNOWLEDGE (West).

     Mastery of the mind vs. Accumulation of knowledge.

     Even abandoning a long-cherished value. 

‘Be still and Know that you are God’ – Swamiji, Bk 1, Ch. 13.

‘Abandon learning and there will be no more distress’, roughly. Lao Tzu, Taoist thinker. (550BC ca).

‘Did it ever occur to you we have come here to think, not to talk’. Swami Atulananda to a member as a retreat starts 1903.

‘Silence is the language of my Soul, all else is poor translation’ (roughly). Rumi (1207-1273).

‘You can learn knowledge which is useless. Look into yourself and think’ (roughly). Heraclitus 500BC ca.

Western approach – It is from the accumulated learning that we set our values. Through knowledge and reasoning, we have set the value as important. It often brings too high self-expectations. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown/doubt, are by-products. The endless accumulation of learning is the goal. ‘To have’.

Eastern approach. Self-assessment with Clarity, no doubts. Mastery of the mind is the goal.

It is to learn what really are our true values. Until the mind is trained (over many years) there is no correct self-assessment and our culture, education, etc., may have given us some wrong values. By sitting still and training the mind, a ‘vision’ enters. Now trained, you see some of the accumulated learning is pointless. So ambition is reduced, less demands, even to abandon some long-cherished values. This ‘vision’ has a progressive Clarity. Fear never arises. The awareness intensifies; gradually (it’s time dependent) the mind becomes better trained. The better it’s trained, the better the self-assessment – always with Clarity. ‘To be’.

Limiting possessions strengthens the will. It frees up  time to think. A strong will leads to mastery.