MIND MYSTERIES & CONTROL - 15. INTENTION: The Operation of Thought - Sri Swami Sivananda - The Mind: Its Mysteries & Control - HQ Full Book.

Swami Sivananda’s exploration of intention and the operation of thought in *The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control* reveals profound insights into the mind’s role as both the creator of bondage and the pathway to liberation. He emphasizes that the spiritual life in God is the ultimate fulfillment, contrasting it with the transient and restless nature of physical and thought-based life. This chapter delves into the mechanisms of intention, its effects on samsara (the cycle of birth and rebirth), and the means to transcend it.   

The Connection Between God, Thought, and the Universe
Swami Sivananda begins by drawing attention to the spiritual life in God, where all desires are fulfilled because Brahman—the Supreme Cosmic Spirit—is self-contained and complete. This divine connection contrasts sharply with the physical life, which ties us to the external world. Thought, according to Sivananda, acts as the intermediary between these two realms, linking the finite and the infinite. The power of the mind, through the operation of thought, determines whether one remains immersed in restlessness or opens oneself to divine inflow. Purity of thought facilitates this divine connection, whereas restlessness distances us from God.   He compares the restless mind to a perpetually active railway engine, ceaselessly generating thought-currents derived from latent desires (vasanas) and mental impressions (samskaras). These thought-currents, which originate in the mind’s bed of impressions, continuously flow toward objects of desire in both waking and dreaming states. The relentless nature of thought, Sivananda asserts, is the root of intention—the mental expansion that creates and sustains the universe.   

Intention as the Cause of Bondage
Swami Sivananda makes a profound statement: intention is samsara itself. The incessant generation of intention, fueled by desires and mental modifications, is the primary cause of bondage. He likens this to a silk-worm enmeshing itself in its cocoon—a self-created trap. This cycle of intention perpetuates pain and suffering, anchoring individuals in the illusion (maya) of the material world.   The tree of maya, he explains, flourishes through the seed of intention. Its cravings and desires act as water, nurturing the tree, while actions yield its fruit. Lust, anger, and greed are its sprouts, and the three gunas (qualities of nature: sattva, rajas, and tamas) form its buds. The senses are its twigs, the ego is its trunk, and the dualities of attraction and aversion constitute its branches. The mind, formless yet pervasive, gives reality to this illusory creation through intention.   The dissolution of the universe, therefore, occurs with the cessation of mental intentions. Realization of Brahman, Sivananda states, is attainable only by abandoning these intentions. Liberation is the annihilation of intention, while its proliferation perpetuates the cycle of birth and rebirth. The chapter emphasizes that even rigorous austerities or supernatural powers cannot lead to liberation unless the intentions of the mind are eradicated.   

The Path to Liberation: Annihilation of Intentions
The destruction of intention is central to attaining liberation and experiencing Brahmic bliss, which is free from pain and heterogeneity. Sivananda urges practitioners to contemplate deeply on the ephemeral nature of intentions and the suffering they bring. By divesting oneself of intentions, duality, and indecision, one can rest in a state of thoughtlessness, characterized by pure consciousness. This state represents steadiness in Brahman, the ultimate reality.   Sivananda encourages aspirants to strive for this state through self-effort and rigorous practice. Remaining intentionless, he asserts, allows one to transcend the limitations of the mind and experience non-duality. The thoughtless state is synonymous with liberation, where the mind’s waves are stilled, and the individual rests in the infinite bliss of Brahman.   

The Nature of the Mind and Its Challenges
The mind’s natural tendency is to gravitate toward worldly objects. This inclination is deeply ingrained, making it challenging to direct the mind toward God. Sivananda compares this effort to reversing the natural flow of the Ganga River or rowing against the current of the Yamuna. However, he insists that through renunciation, discrimination, and strenuous effort, the mind can be trained to flow toward the divine. This redirection is essential to free oneself from samsara and the accompanying miseries. 

Practical Techniques to Destroy Intentions
To overcome intention, Sivananda prescribes practical methods rooted in discrimination and spiritual practice:  

1. Discrimination (Viveka): Constantly discern between the real and the unreal, the eternal and the transient. This practice weakens the hold of intentions and redirects mental energy toward the ultimate truth.  

2. Withdrawal from Objects: Detach the mind from external objects and focus it inward. This withdrawal, coupled with adherence to the Guru’s instructions, purifies the mind and prepares it for higher states of consciousness.  

3. Fixation on the Heart-Space: Concentrate the mind on the spiritual heart, where Brahman resides. This focus accelerates the dissolution of the mind and its intentions.  

4. Mantra Repetition: Repeat affirmations such as, “Brahman alone is real. The world is unreal. The individual is identical with Brahman.” This practice reinforces the truth and counters mental distractions.  

5. Silent Contemplation: Sit in solitude and observe the mind. Systematically destroy each thought wave as it arises, striving to reach a state of mental stillness. This effort leads to the disappearance of thoughts and the emergence of the Atman (Self).  

Sivananda compares the process of intention’s destruction to crushing a flower. It requires effort, but not excessive exertion. The control of thoughts naturally leads to the eradication of intentions, much like extinguishing a fire with the same wind that fans it.   

The State of Intentionlessness
The ultimate goal is the state of intentionlessness, where both the mind and its ignorance dissolve. In this state, the individual experiences Brahmic bliss, which is eternal, formless, and beyond duality. Sivananda describes it as akin to the clear sky of autumn, free from the clouds of delusion. When the restless mind becomes desireless and thoughtless, the Atman shines forth in its full glory, radiating peace and bliss.   Sivananda urges seekers to look within for happiness, rather than pursuing fleeting pleasures in external objects. True joy lies in the subjective realization of the Atman, which is existence, consciousness, and bliss (sat-chit-ananda). This realization ends all suffering and liberates one from the cycles of birth and death.   

Chapter 15 of *The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control* serves as a profound guide to understanding the role of intention in spiritual life. Swami Sivananda’s teachings highlight the mind’s capacity to bind or liberate, depending on how it is directed. By annihilating intentions through discrimination, detachment, and focused spiritual practice, one can transcend the illusions of the mind and realize the infinite bliss of Brahman. This chapter is a call to diligent effort and inner transformation, leading to ultimate freedom and peace.  

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