Manah shodhanam - 01/05 Talk in English by Swami Aparajitananda, Chinmaya Mission Chicago-Yamunotri.

Hari Om !!
Manah shodhanam - 01/05 Talk in English by Swami Aparajitananda, Chinmaya Mission Chicago-Yamunotri.

This talk series by Pujya Swami Aparajitananda is based on the text Manaḥ Śodhanam, composed by Param Pujya Swami Tejomayananda (Guruji). The pure mind is an essential instrument for a spiritual seeker. Recognising the importance of a pure mind, Guruji offers guidance through these 25 verses.
While introducing this composition, Pujya Swamiji also introduces us to the nature of our minds. Unless we understand how our own mind is creating miseries in our life, we will never strive to purify it. He elaborates on the following characteristics of the impure mind:
1. Deluding mind
2. Enslaving mind
3. Alienating mind
4. Torturing mind
5. Hampering mind
He humorously explains how our impure mind is, in fact, DEATH, killing us moment by moment and life after life.
Process of Purification
Since this text is entirely dedicated to the purification of the mind, the topics discussed in the text are:
1. Why is purification essential?
2. What are the impurities of the mind?
3. How does the mind become impure?
4. What is the proof that these impurities belong to the mind and not the Self?
5. What are the traditional techniques for purifying the mind?
6. What is the best way to purify the mind?
7. What are the common and specific impurities of the mind, and how can they be eliminated?
8. What is the proof that the mind is being purified?
9. What should be our attitude during the purification process?
10. How can we inspire ourselves when the results seem discouraging?
Verse 1
परमात्माऽद्वयानन्दः सर्वभूतस्थितोऽपि ह।
अज्ञाननेनावृतोऽदृष्ट तथैव च मनोमलैः ॥1॥
The first line of this stanza is an invocation prayer and also defines the nature of the Self. The terms used to describe the higher Self are paramātma, advayānandaḥ, and sarvabhūtastḥ. Pujya Swamiji elaborates on each of these terms to offer deeper insights.
As these terms suggests, Bhagavan is always with us, then why do we fail to experience Him? If we carry infinite bliss within our hearts, why are we still so miserable?
Pujya Guruji offers two reasons for this misery:
1. Ignorance, and
2. An impure mind.
The above discussion on the Self and impurities of the mind, leads to the question: Why does consciousness need a mind to know itself? This question is addressed in the following verse:
ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञाने नष्टे भाति स्वयं हि सः।
सत्यमेतत् तथापीह कष्टमेकं च वर्तते ॥12॥
While explaining this verse, Pujya Swamiji uses various examples to clarify that knowledge of the Self is sufficient to realise the Self. With knowledge of the Self, ignorance is dispelled, allowing the Self to shine forth. While it is true that the Self will shine once ignorance is removed, but this knowledge is not yet our experience. The reason for this is our impure mind, which acts as a barrier. To illustrate this, Swamiji uses the example of pole vaulting to show why purifying the mind is crucial for realising the Self.
The purity of the mind exists at various levels, and understanding its significance in the spiritual journey will be explored in verses 4 and 5, which will be discussed in the next talk.