Don't Let Your Monkey Mind Steal Your Vision

6 October 2010--While on parikrama today at the Sri Sri Radha Damodar temple in Vrindavana a monkey stole the glasses from Mr. Joshi, one of the members our of party. The monkey was so bold that he stole them from Mr. Joshi while he was wearing them. Sometimes the monkeys will accept bribes in the form of bananas or other foodstuffs to return the stolen goods, and sometimes they will accept the bribe and then not return what they have stolen.

You may wonder why I am presenting such a topic where I normally present the science and philosophy of Krishna consciousness. The reason is that there is very nice simile here. One's mind is like a monkey. And that mind, if allowed to be uncontrolled, steals away one intelligence. One is no longer able to distinguish between illusion and reality. When one's mind becomes like a monkey one should feed it with the knowledge of Krishna consciousness. In this way one will be able to regain complete control over his mind and will have the clear vision to distinguish reality from illusion

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Vrindavana Monkey Steals Mr. Joshi's Glasses
and Returns Then After Being Offered a BribeMonkey Steals Glasses and Returns Them After Being Offered a Bribe

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Dhyāna, Dhāraṇā, and Prāṇāyāma

What is your opinion about dhyāna, dhāraṇā, and prāṇāyāma? Don't you think they are also important or essential for a sadhaka (one who practices self-realization) to develop his Krishna bhakti or Krishna consciousness, as you say? I need your clarification please.

With my obeisances,

Chandra

Answer: Beneficial Only for the Non-Devotees

Dhyāna, dhāraṇā, and prāṇāyāma are three of the steps in the eightfold yogic path known as aṣṭāṅga-yoga.

The eight stages of the aṣṭāṅga-yoga are as follows:

1. yama--prohibitions
2. niyama--positive regulative principles
3. āsana--sitting postures
4. prāṇāyāma--breathing exercises
5. pratyāhāra--withdrawal of the senses from material sense objects
6. dhāraṇā--concentration
7. dhyāna--meditation
8. samādhi--trance

The above process is recommended for less intelligent persons who have no better knowledge. But one who has tasted the beauty of the Supreme Lord Krishna, in the course of his advancement in Krishna consciousness, no longer has a taste for dead, material things. Therefore, restrictions are there for the less intelligent neophytes in the spiritual advancement of life, but such restrictions are only good until one actually has a taste for Krishna consciousness. When one is actually Krishna conscious, he automatically loses his taste for pale things.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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