How can we remove bad impressions from our mind?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So, there are certain impressions which are there inside us and even if we start practicing bhakti, if we encounter the object, the desire may come and we may relax. So, how can we get rid of the impression itself? It’s an important question. There are broadly two aspects to the removal of inner impressions.
One is that at the very least, we stop getting new impressions. So, for example, if I have a house which is dirty and there is a window which is open from which dirt is coming in again and again. So then, if I want to ever clean the house, first thing is I have to close the window so that further dirt doesn’t come in.
So, we try to minimize our exposure to those particular stimuli as much as possible so that the impression doesn’t get reinforced. Now, it’s not possible to go around in the world with closed eyes. So, we cannot avoid seeing things.
But, we can avoid contemplating on things. When we see, that is not the problem. When we contemplate, basically when we see and then we start imagining based on what we see.
That is where the problem begins. So, we can minimize the external further reinforcement of those impressions. Second thing is that the mind is filled with impressions.
But, the mind is also impressionable. That means, say, sometimes some people they put graffiti, they draw graffiti on the walls. Now, it may look very dirty.
It is a very orderly place. Now, there are two ways to remove graffiti. One is to scratch out the graffiti.
The other is to overpaint. Now, if the graffiti is small, then you might just scratch it out. But, if there is a lot of graffiti, the solution is just overpaint it.
So, now with respect to the mind, the impressions that are there, we cannot scratch out the impressions. What is there is there inside. But, we can overpaint.
Overpaint means that we create new impressions. New positive impressions. So, especially if we start practicing bhakti, it is not just about doing particular activities.
Those activities are important. But, along with that, while doing those activities, we create positive spiritual impressions within us. And especially if we have some intense devotional experiences.
Maybe we go for some holy place and participate in a very sweet kirtan or a very beautiful darshan of the deities or some very heartwarming interaction with some senior devotees. All these can create positive impressions. And as our consciousness becomes permeated with these positive impressions, then the lower impressions get overpainted.
And in the meanwhile, somehow the desire comes up. So, then, we it is good if the impressions are strong then to create some kind of obstacle between us and the indulgence in the activity. So, for example, if somebody is say an alcoholic, the first thing that they are told is don’t ever go to a bar.
Go there, I have no plan to drink. Well, you have no plan to drink, but there are others who have plans for you to drink. So, we have to create obstacles between us and that object.
Now, of course, we can remove the obstacles. If our desires get, if our indulgence gets perverted, we may break through the obstacles also. But, those obstacles, they can keep us in check temporarily.
So, it can be small practical things. See, some people, they just have a tendency to waste a lot of time on the internet. Surfing this, surfing that, surfing that.
And then, especially, so if we find that we are going to, if somebody is wasting time on the internet, going to inappropriate sites, then it is good to simply have an internet filter. So, now anybody they want, they can remove the filter also. But, what happens is, if we are trying to live a principle-centered life, then when the desires come, the desires come and grab us for some time.
And if we can just tolerate during that time, then our intelligence comes back. So, when there is an obstacle between us and indulging in that object, then overcoming that obstacle requires some time. And during that time, what am I doing? I don’t want to do this.
What is this? Our intelligence comes back and we don’t indulge it. So, if the object is kept very easily available, then it becomes almost impossible to resist it. Say, somebody is very obese and they want to lose weight.
Then if they keep fatty food all around in the house, they won’t even realize. They are talking on the phone and then, hey, what am I eating? When did I go here? When did I start eating this? Don’t even realize it. We may feel hungry and we need to eat.
But then don’t keep fatty food nearby. So, we have to look at practically, now if I want, I can always go somewhere and buy a fatty food and eat it. But all this takes time.
It requires some effort. And during that time, the impulse, the urge that has come, it subsides. So, we have to learn to tolerate the urge when it comes.
And we need some external help in that. So, by creating some obstacle between ourselves and the indulgence of that, we can create some support for tolerance. And parallel to that, it’s important that we also create some, we also find some very positive spiritual stimuli for ourselves.
That means, say, if we find that a particular tune of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, some Kirtan Dhool, we like very much. Or some picture of the deities, we like very much. Or maybe some devotees’ classes, we like very much.
Or a particular book, we like to read very much. We have to find out what it is that can easily, quickly, effectively connect us with Krishna. And that will be different for all of us.
Because all of us are different individuals. And when we find that, we keep that readily available for ourselves. And then, whenever this urge comes, on one side there is an obstacle, which stops us from indulging in it.
But then, with whatever little indulgence we have, we just turn ourselves towards some positive spiritual stimuli. And by that, we get some satisfaction, we get some calmness. I don’t want to do this.
We recover. So, basically, I talked about four things. First is, minimize further impressions coming on that, of whatever bad impressions are there from the past.
Second is, overpaint. Expose oneself to lot of devotional stimuli, intense devotional stimuli, to create positive spiritual impressions. Third is, create an obstacle between us and that object.
So that, when the urge comes, we can’t immediately indulge. And during that time, getting over the obstacle, our intelligence comes back. And fourth is, try to create a positive spiritual stimuli.
Try to find out, what is this positive spiritual stimuli by which I can connect with Krishna. And keep that as readily accessible as possible. That way, we can tolerate the impressions, the urges that come from the impressions.
And gradually, as we become purified, as there is overpainting, the impressions will also go away. Thank you.