Peace of mind, often referred to as inner calm, pertains to an individual’s internal state of tranquility. This state of Peaceful mind is characterized by feelings of ease, comfort, and contentment within oneself. Achieving mental peace is accompanied by a sense of self-compassion and acceptance, allowing one to let go of negative emotions and thoughts that disrupt inner calm. Furthermore, a peaceful mind is unruffled by the daily stresses and worries that may arise, enabling one to approach life’s challenges with a clear and focused perspective. A peaceful mind can lead to greater physical health as well, as it is associated with lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and improved cardiovascular health. Additionally, having a peaceful mind can lead to increased productivity, creativity, and improved relationships with others. Overall, a peaceful mind is an essential aspect of one’s mental and emotional well-being. It is a state of mind that allows for greater joy, contentment, and fulfillment in life. By taking steps to cultivate inner peace, individuals can enhance their quality of life and experience greater harmony within themselves and with the world around them. This article will explore the different ways and means that can be used to achieve a state of inner calm and tranquility, also known as a peaceful mind.
#1 The Spiritual Connection
Ancient scriptures like Bhagavad Gita teach us that we are not merely physical bodies, but rather spiritual beings or spirit souls. Accordingly, when we pass away from this life, we leave behind all of our material possessions, acquired knowledge, relationships, and identities associated with our physical form. We also leave behind all of the worries, anxieties, and responsibilities that we carry throughout our lifetime. If we cultivate a spiritual perspective, we can begin to see things more clearly.
As spiritual beings, we are not subject to the changes and fluctuations of the material world. Our existence transcends this physical realm, and we have existed before and will continue to exist after our current physical form ceases to be. The material world is temporary, and all things within it are impermanent, including both happiness and suffering. However, our spirit soul is permanent and unaffected by the material conditions of this world.
In the eyes of spirituality, all living beings are equal, and none have anything to gain or lose from the material world. Although the conditions of material existence may fluctuate like changing seasons, our spirit soul remains unchanged and transcendent. Understanding this fundamental truth is crucial to achieving a peaceful mind.
By embracing our spiritual nature and acknowledging that material possessions and experiences are temporary and fleeting, we can cultivate a sense of inner peace that is not reliant on external circumstances. By detaching ourselves from material attachments, we can free ourselves from the worries and anxieties that often weigh us down. Instead, we can focus on nurturing our spirit and striving for a deeper connection with our true selves and the world around us.
na jayate mriyate va kadacin
nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah sasvato ‘yam purano
na hanyate hanyamane sarire
(Bhagavad Gita 2.20)
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The soul is never subject to birth or death, and once it has existed, it will continue to exist for eternity. The soul is eternal, unborn, and primeval, and it does not cease to exist even when the body it inhabits passes away. Even in death, the soul remains undying and ever-existing.
#2 Controlling your Mind through Intelligence
The human mind is inherently emotional and susceptible to being affected by both happiness and distress. However, by cultivating a spiritual perspective that focuses on the holistic journey of the soul and recognizes that the soul is not impacted by the temporary fluctuations of material life, our intelligence can effectively control the mind.
Intelligence, being subtler and more powerful than the mind, has the ability to react based on logical reasoning rather than emotional impulses. This can be illustrated through an example of a student who is feeling fatigued from studying for an extended period. In this situation, the emotional mind may implore the student to take a break and indulge in activities like watching a movie or playing with friends. However, intelligence recognizes the importance of continuing to study as the exam is approaching and overrules the emotional decisions of the mind.
By training our intelligence to make decisions that align with our transcendental spiritual identity, we can shield our mind from emotional distress. This involves recognizing that our true essence is beyond the temporary material realm and prioritizing actions that will benefit our soul’s journey rather than solely focusing on material pleasures or immediate gratification.
In this way, we can effectively navigate the challenges and fluctuations of life with a sense of inner peace and balance, allowing us to make decisions that align with our higher purpose and transcendental nature.
#3 Harnessing the Power of Yoga
Contrary to common belief, Yoga does not merely involve performing difficult physical postures or holding one’s breath. The term ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means to unite or yoke. The practice of Yoga aims to unite the body, mind, and spirit, and connect the individual soul to universal consciousness. Originally intended for attaining the realization of God, the various practices of yoga aim to purify the mind and bring one closer to the Supreme Lord.The asanas, or physical postures, are just one of the eight stages of Ashtanga Yoga, and are meant to help pacify the mind and enable one to focus their attention on the Supreme Lord. The other seven stages include breath control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation, and ultimately realization of the true self. The foundational guidebook for Ashtanga Yoga is the Patanjali Sutras, which are divided into four sections: samadhi, sadhana, vibhuti, and kaivalya.
The ‘Hatha Yoga’, which is popularly practiced today, is mainly focused on the asana stage of Ashtanga Yoga. However, the Patanjali system emphasizes that the exercises are meant to facilitate introspection and self-realization, rather than just physical health. The yogi is warned against being allured to mystic siddhis or powers and is instead encouraged to focus on the goal of self-realization, which involves discrimination between matter and spirit, purging oneself of base qualities, and having complete control over the mind and senses. The ultimate goal of Yoga is the realization that we are not the body but the eternal soul within. This is achieved by being fixed in meditation on the Lord residing within the heart and no longer being influenced by the conditions of matter. The following is a portrayal of an individual who has achieved ‘Samadhi,’ which is considered to be the ultimate goal of Yoga.
buddhya visuddhaya yukto
dhrtyatmanam niyamya ca
sabdadin visayams tyaktva
ragadvesau vyudasya ca
vivikta sevi laghvasi
yatroparamate cittam
niruddhham yoga-sevaya
yatra chaivatmanatmanam
pasyan atmani tushyati
sukham atyantikam yat tad
buddhi grahyam atindriyam
vetti yatra na chaivayam
sthitas chalati tattvatah
yam labdhva caparam labham
manyate nadhikam tatah
yasmin sthito na duhkhena
gurunapi vichalyate
tam vidyad duhkha samyoga
viyogam yoga samjnitam
(Bhagavad Gita 6.20-23)
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In the stage of perfection called samadhi (trance), one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by the practice of yoga. This perfection is identified by one’s ability to see the self through the uncontaminated mind and to relish and revel within the Self. In that blissful state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through spiritual senses. Situated thus, one never strays from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being established in such an exalted position, one is never shaken, even amidst the greatest obstacle. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries stemming from material contact.
#4 Relying on the Supreme Lord
Every living being is inherently dependent on someone else, but when one forgets their relationship with the Lord, they become reliant on the conditions of material nature. Renunciation entails abandoning this dependence on material nature and placing complete trust in the Lord’s mercy. This is True renunciation. In the grand scheme of things, victory belongs to the Supreme Lord, and subordinate living beings fight under His arrangement. Success or failure is not actually in the hands of the living beings; it is a product of the Lord’s arrangement through the agency of material nature. Thus, being proud of victory or disheartened by defeat is meaningless. A devotee must place their complete reliance on God, who is ultimately responsible for all outcomes.
A true devotee of God has no reliance on his own strength and relies solely on the causeless mercy of the Lord for deliverance. The Lord is the friend of all, but He is especially kind to surrendered souls. Therefore, a conditioned soul should remain surrendered to the Lord, who will give them protection and keep them out of the clutches of material contamination. A pure devotee of God is never afraid of any material danger, as exemplified by Prahlada Maharaja, who was only a five-year-old boy but was not at all intimidated when his father tried to torture him. Therefore, a devotee should learn from the examples of great souls like Prahlada Maharaja and develop the ability to tolerate all kinds of difficulties in this world. Although devotees may face persecution and harassment from non-devotees or enemies, they remain undisturbed by such adversities as they depend entirely on the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
A true devotee has no selfish desires and is entirely protected by the Supreme. They do not expect any assistance from the Lord but rely on Him completely, just as a child depends on their parents. Like a child, a devotee does not know how to demand service from the Lord, but they are still protected by His mercy. By depending on the Lord’s mercy and protection, a person can cultivate peace of mind, free from all fear and anxiety.
#5 Mantra Meditation
In the present day and age, practicing Ashtanga Yoga or Hatha Yoga might prove to be exceedingly difficult. As even great warriors like Arjuna have admitted to Krishna, it is easier to control the wind than to control one’s own mind. Therefore, it is recommended that the ideal process to control one’s mind is to engage in chanting the holy names or Mantra meditation. The ancient Vedic texts proclaim that chanting the holy Name of the Supreme Lord is the most effective way to cultivate spiritual realization in this present age of quarrel and confusion (Harer nama Harer nama Harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasthyeva nasthyeva nasthyeva gathir anyatha – Brhan Naradiya Purana). There is nothing else as powerful as chanting the holy name of the Lord.
The holy name is non-different from the Lord and is endowed with all His potencies. Repeated chanting of the holy names purifies one’s heart and rekindles one’s dormant love for the Supreme.When an individual spiritualizes their consciousness through Mantra Meditation, their mind follows the directives of the intelligence, which makes decisions based on a spiritual reality. This is why Mantra Meditation is one of the most effective techniques to attain a peaceful mind. By continuously chanting the holy names of the Lord, one’s mind becomes focused and attains a state of tranquility. The Kali Santarana Upanishad recommends the Hare Krishna Mahamantra as the foremost Mantra for spiritual attainment in the present age –
Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
Hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Iti sodasakam namnam kali kalmasa nasanam
Natah parataropayah sarva vedesu drsyate
(Kali Santarana Upanishad)
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The sixteen syllables of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra: ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’ destroy all inauspiciousness in this age of Kali. This is the verdict of the Vedas.