Suppose a friend takes us to a movie theater and then gets us so engrossed in watching the movie that we become oblivious to everything else. And then that friend slips their hands into our pocket and steals our wallet, leaving us penniless, even identity-less. 

Similar is the way our mind distracts and defrauds us. Gita wisdom explains that the mind is our constant inner companion. It tells us various stories that seem as vivid as captivating movies. 

The mind shows us movies in which sensual activities give us immense pleasure. Being caught in those movies, we unthinkingly pursue those pleasures, indulging in actions that are immoral and antispiritual. When the mind’s spell ends, we find our consciousness and character corrupted. 

Or the mind shows us victimhood movies whereby it exaggerates wrongs done to us. Losing ourselves in those movies, we act aggressively, believing that we are merely seeking justice. When the mind’s spell ends, we encounter the consequences of our anger: broken hearts and ruined relationships. 

Thus, when we get caught in the mind’s movie, it makes our life a horror movie. And the more we get caught in our mind, the worse our real-life situation becomes. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (06.06) cautions that our mind remains our worst enemy as long as it is uncontrolled and controls our fantasies.

How can we prevent our life from becoming a horror movie? By remembering how dangerous the mind is and learning to carefully catch ourselves before we get caught in its movie. And the best way to catch ourselves is by letting ourselves be caught in Krishna, the all-safe, all-strong supreme. By practicing bhakti-yoga, we all can become devotionally absorbed in him, and his attractiveness can protect us from the mind’s deceptiveness. 

Think it over:

  • How does watching the mind’s movie make our life a horror movie?
  • How can we protect ourselves from our mind?
  • What typical movie does your mind show you? How can you best absorb yourself in Krishna?

***

06.06: For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.

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