9. Mastering the mind

Ātmavinigrahaḥ

Mind is a colorful kaleidoscope

Fanciful thoughts play jump rope

Never constant and rarely still

Mastering mind is a tactical skill

It is subject to sudden starts and turns

Many capricious notions always returns

It is naturally playful and whimsical

It can be critical and analytical

One can even catch the wind

All I can say is oh mind, never mind!

Four kinds of thoughts are momentaneous

Impulsive, mechanical, deliberate and spontaneous

These are the varieties that are distinctive

Impulsive, are unexamined and instinctive

Mechanical, are from prior conditioning

Deliberate, are after careful repositioning

Spontaneity, is indeed the ultimate mystery

After self knowledge, it is a complete mastery

Relative mastery is achieved by careful examination

Accept and dismiss thoughts after deliberate mentation

Examining all impulses is wise

Discipline the thoughts as they arise

Perform the actions with a choice

Apply the mind correctly to rejoice

Alertness and awareness are the main ingredients

Not getting distracted is the cooking process

The mastery of the mind is the final cupcake

That can be enjoyed while you are awake

Inspiration - The Value of Values book- Swami Dayananda Saraswati

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