THE MIND: ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL - 36. THE MIND COMPARED - Sri Swami Sivananda - The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control - HQ Full Book.

The Mind Compared
Sri Swami Sivananda, in his profound work "The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control," delves into the intricate workings of the human mind, offering vivid comparisons to illustrate its tendencies, struggles, and methods of control. Chapter 36, titled "The Mind Compared," is a masterful exploration of the mind's nature, characterized by its restlessness, unpredictability, and immense potential when properly directed. 

Restless Like a Ghost
The mind is likened to a ghost, ever restless and demanding engagement. Through an allegorical story, Sivananda describes a teacher who, through mantra-psychic power, subdues a ghost. This ghost, insatiable and relentless, demands continuous tasks, threatening to devour the teacher if left idle even for a moment. The teacher’s guru advises a clever solution: install a greased wooden post and instruct the ghost to climb up and down perpetually. This tale underscores the essential lesson that the mind, like the ghost, must be kept constantly engaged in purposeful activities such as mantra repetition, meditation, self-study, service, devotional singing, prayer, or breath-control. Only through constant engagement can one achieve mastery over the restless mind and establish oneself in physical and mental celibacy. 

Scatters Like Mercury
The mind’s activity is compared to mercury spilled on the ground. Just as mercury splits into countless fragments, scattering in all directions and resisting collection, so too does the mind dissipate its energy toward myriad sensual objects. This scattering weakens the mind, making it challenging to harness its full potential. However, through spiritual practices and cultivating dispassion, the dispersed mental rays can be collected and directed toward a single, focused purpose. 

Shameless as a Street Dog
The mind is also likened to a shameless, wounded street dog, wandering from door to door despite repeated rejection and harm. Like the dog that continually returns to the same doors despite being beaten, the mind persistently chases after sensual pleasures, even when such pursuits lead to pain and sorrow. Sivananda emphasizes that the mind must be disciplined and redirected toward its true source, the Supreme Brahman. By chanting “Om” with devotion and feeling, the mind can be made to taste the infinite bliss of the Self, ultimately finding rest in its original abode of eternal peace. 

Jumps Like a Tennis Ball
The mind’s tendencies are likened to a tennis ball, which leaps high into the sky only to plummet back to the ground. Similarly, during meditation, the novice mind briefly ascends to divine contemplation but quickly falls back into old patterns of worldly thoughts. Sivananda advises persistence. Just as a tennis ball can be hit upward again with renewed effort, so too must the meditator continually lift the mind toward higher realms of divine consciousness. 

Reflects Like a Mirror
The mind functions like a mirror, reflecting Reality—the Supreme Brahman—within it. However, the clarity of this reflection depends on the purity of the mind. Just as a tainted or imperfect mirror distorts the image it reflects, selfish desires, passions, and latent impurities cloud the mind, obscuring the revelation of Truth. Spiritual aspirants must practice introspection and eliminate these impurities to ensure a clear and accurate reflection of Reality. Sivananda illustrates this with an example: just as a dog mistakes its reflection in a mirror for another dog, so too does man, blinded by ignorance, perceive others as separate from himself, leading to hatred and jealousy. 

Oscillates Like a Pendulum
The aspirant’s mind is compared to a pendulum, oscillating between action and contemplation. Just as a pendulum swings back and forth, the mind wavers between the pursuit of worldly duties and the desire for meditative solitude. Sivananda urges aspirants to decisively choose their path and commit wholeheartedly. Whether engaging in selfless action (Karma Yoga) or solitary meditation, consistency is key to progress. Alternating between extremes leads to stagnation; steadfastness leads to purity of mind and eventual realization. 

Drops Like a Tennis Ball
In another tennis ball analogy, Sivananda warns of the mind’s susceptibility to rapid downfall. If a tennis ball is dropped from a great height, it bypasses intermediate steps and plummets straight to the ground. Similarly, a mind elevated through years of spiritual practice can quickly regress if exposed to worldly distractions or the company of the unmindful. Vigilance is essential to maintain the purity and elevation achieved through spiritual discipline. 

Miscellaneous Comparisons
Sivananda’s creativity shines through as he offers a variety of other comparisons to describe the mind:

• A Small Vessel: The mind holds countless desires, cravings, impressions, and thoughts, much like a small vessel containing diverse items.
• A Public Resting Place: Just as travelers of all kinds take refuge in a public rest area, the mind becomes a resting place for waves of thoughts, including lust, anger, pride, and greed.
• A Public Road: A public road is traversed by people of all kinds; similarly, all sorts of thoughts, both noble and base, travel through the mind.
• A Prostitute’s House: The mind flits from one object of attachment to another, much like a prostitute shifts her affections.
• A Deer: The mind is unsteady and restless, akin to a deer darting from place to place.
• A Monkey: The mind jumps erratically from one thought to another, mirroring the monkey’s constant movement.
• A Bird: Like a bird soaring in the sky, the mind takes flight, flitting between thoughts and ideas.
• The Wind: Impetuous and difficult to control, the mind shares the wind’s unpredictable nature.
• A Ghost: The mind’s behavior can be as perplexing and unpredictable as that of a ghost.
• A Child: Just as a child requires discipline and guidance, so too must the mind be trained through firm resolve.
• An Engine: The mind functions like an engine, operating efficiently only when fueled with the right sustenance, such as spiritual practices and discipline.
• A Garden: The mind is like a garden where virtues such as peace, contentment, and equanimity can be cultivated and nurtured.
• A Temple: When purified, the mind becomes a sacred space where the Divine can reside.
• A Flower: The mind, when offered to the Lord in devotion, becomes a beautiful offering, fragrant with love and surrender.
• Reins: According to ancient scriptures, the mind is likened to reins that guide the chariot of the body. He who holds these reins tightly and skillfully can steer toward the ultimate destination of bliss.

Conclusion
In Chapter 36 of "The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control," Sri Swami Sivananda provides profound insights into the mind’s nature through a series of vivid comparisons. These analogies not only illuminate the mind’s tendencies but also offer practical guidance for spiritual aspirants seeking mastery over their mental faculties. By understanding the mind’s restlessness, its inclination to scatter, and its susceptibility to external influences, one can apply the prescribed disciplines to transform it into a tool for spiritual growth. Through continuous effort, vigilance, and unwavering devotion, the aspirant can ultimately transcend the mind’s limitations and experience the infinite bliss of the Self.  

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