Hari
Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by
which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality
and become more congruent within our personality.
MANAGING THE MANAGER (cont'd) - Swami Swaroopananda
Integrate Mind and Action
Another
method to master the mind is to consciously put it where your hands are.
Gurudev used to say, 'Whenever you pick up any task, complete it well.' It has
become our life-style to do many things at once, such as talking on the mobile
phone whilst walking or eating; or starting the washing, then starting the
computer work and then thinking we must also start another task… resulting,
often, in tasks being left unfinished or not carried out to the fullness they
deserve. Gurudev would produce so much
work; letters, papers, books, prep for discourses. His letter-writing was
famous! Thousands of people all over the world have been in receipt of his
hand-written letters, inspite of his hectic schedule of travel, lectures,
bhikshas, satsangs.
How
could he do so much? He told us the secret - when you take up a work, finish
it. Simple as that. One job at a time, with full focus, will be completed much
more efficiently and effectively. This is the best exercise in controlling the
mind; every time it gets distracted, focus it back on the job at hand. The
moment you do something mechanically, or distractedly, or in a multi-tasking
situation, not only does the work suffer, but the mind has won and gone off on
its own trip. With each and every task, focus on your hands as they perform the actions; if the task is a mental one, place 'thought hands' into the activity.
The
essential you, the part which identifies as "I", are the controller.
To complain the mind runs away with you is to own up to surrendering that
control. Certainly there may be many things going on around you with which you
have connection and perhaps some responsibility. This then requires the process
of prioritising of tasks/events.
Another
aspect of this is our propensity for certain types of attachment and tending to
do only the tasks we like over the tasks we don't. This requires of us
self-understanding in order to enforce self-discipline. This will be addressed
next week.
