We can’t replace the mind, but we can re-place it

Suppose we have a careless colleague who keeps making a mess of things, but whom we aren’t allowed to replace. The best way to deal with the situation is to train the colleague.

Similar is our position in material existence with the colleague being our mind. Rather than teaming with us to meet our responsibilities, the mind becomes our liability. When we want to do one thing, it wanders off to something else, something that is often unimportant and sometimes even stupid. And if we don’t keep our guard up, it even drags us along on its frivolous and foolhardy schemes.

Though the mind is a tireless troublemaker, we can’t replace it – it’s going to be with us for as long as we are in material existence. How can we function effectively with such an unpredictable partner?

By rigorously re-placing it.

The Bhagavad-gita (06.26) urges us to bring the mind back under our control wherever or whenever it wanders.

Won’t such constant labor be taxing?

Yes, but it can also be transforming if we find the right object to place the mind on. The Gita repeatedly recommends the all-pure Supreme, Krishna, as the best such object.

Why is Krishna the best object?

Because he is supremely pure, and contact with him purifies the mind.

The mind is a perennial pleasure-seeker. Due to past impressions of materialistic pleasures, it goes off at every opportunity towards those pleasures. But when we consistently place it on Krishna by thinking of his glories, his pastimes, his service, the mind realizes gradually that such remembrance gives the best fulfillment, far better than that available through any of its quixotic schemes for worldly enjoyment.

By repeatedly re-placing the mind on Krishna, we reform it, realize the joyfulness of connection with him and rejoice therein eternally.

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