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Hari Om !!
Manah shodhanam - 02/05 Talk in English by Swami Aparajitananda, Chinmaya Mission Chicago-Yamunotri.

Pujya Swamiji continues to guide us on the journey of Manaḥ Śodhanam. After summarising the teachings from the first day, he dives deeper into in the next verses:
यावन्मला न क्षीयन्ते मनसो रागरुपकाः
तावन्न तत्वजिज्ञासा जायते मानुषे हृदि I3I
कथंचिद्यदि जायते तत्त्वेच्छा पूर्वकरमतः
बोधोऽपि जायते यद्वा तन्निष्ठा नैव संभवेत् I4I
निष्ठाऽभावात् परानन्दो जीवन्मुक्तस्य योगिनः
साधकैर्नानुभूयेत विफलं तर्हि साधनम् I5I
In Verse 3, Swamiji addresses fundamental questions that arise in a seeker's mind:
1. Why is it necessary to purify the mind?
2. Why do seekers experience negative emotions despite their true nature being pure consciousness?
3. If Consciousness is self-aware, why is the mind needed?
4. Who seeks to know consciousness – the mind or consciousness itself?
5. How does a pure mind aid in realising consciousness, and what are its characteristics?
6. What are the signs of an impure mind?
7. What kind of mind appreciates the significance of spirituality?
Verse 4: Swamiji explains us the various stages of spiritual evolution. The purity of one’s mind determines the seekers stage of spiritual evolution.
Verse 5:
A realised being effortlessly abide in the Self and experiences supreme bliss. However, seekers often feel that their efforts are futile due to a lack of immediate results. Guruji urges to develop firm conviction and provides a clear roadmap for achieving purity of mind:
Verse 6
दृढनिष्ठैकसिद्ध्यर्थं मनश्शुद्धिरपेक्षिता
तदर्थं साधकाः सर्वे यतन्तां दृढनिश्चयाःII
Purity of mind is indispensable for spiritual progress. Seekers with firm resolve must strive relentlessly for mental purification.
Verse 7
मनश्शुद्धिकराणीह साधनानि वदन्ति ह
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव जपस्तीर्थं व्रतस्तथाII
The scriptures recommend various methods for mind purification: yajño (sacrificial rituals), dānaṃ (charity), tapa (austerity), japa (chanting), tīrthaṃ (pilgrimages), and vrata (vows).
Verse 8
विचारः साधनं श्रेष्ठं वर्ण्यतेऽत्र यथामति
महत्त्वं तस्य वै प्रोक्तं कृष्णेन स्वयमेव हिII
Among all methods, Vichara (right thinking) is considered the most effective for mental purification. While practicing any discipline, one's understanding must be correct. Without proper thinking, even strenuous efforts put forward by the seeker may fail to yield results or may give opposite results. Lord Krishna affirms this in the Bhagavad Gita, hence Guruji reproduces that shloka from Gita in this composition:
Verse 9
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताःII
The Lord declares that no practice can equal the sanctity of knowledge. Many have purified their minds through the austerity of right understanding and attained oneness with Him.
The intention behind spiritual practices is to dissolve the ego. Success in meditation depends on how effectively one surrenders the ego during spiritual disciplines like yajño, dānaṃ, tapa, japa, tīrthaṃ, and vrata. Without proper understanding, these practices may inflate the ego rather than dissolve it. An inflated ego leads to a restless mind during meditation, hindering communion with the Self.