Those who believe that their mind is their friend become their own enemies

Transcript

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Ray.
If we believe that our mind is our friend. We become our enemy. Suppose we are travelling.
Say we have picked up someone. Along the way. To give them a ride.
And then we start asking them. For directions. If we don’t know the.
Credentials of that person. If we don’t know the track record of that person. Asking them.
For advice. Is far from the. Most advisable thing to do.
We may well end up. Fooling ourselves. Because.
That person may have. Some vested interests. And they may mislead us.
Into some place. Where there might be an ambush waiting. Where they may have their.
Somebody who is in cahoots with them. Who will. Overpower us.
So it’s best. That we learn. To see the limitations of situations.
It’s best that. We learn to see. How people.
Are actually. Not always. Benevolently motivated.
Even if they are not. Malevolently motivated. They might just be ignorant.
And often people. Sometimes because of their. Ego.
Don’t want to admit their ignorance. So they may just end up. Doing something.
Speaking something. And guiding us somewhere. Even when they don’t know whether they are the right way or not.
So. If we just uncritically believe. Whatever they are saying.
We will be. Misled. Now the same applies.
In our life journey to our mind. Our mind is along with us. On the ride.
We are like the drivers. And the mind. Is accompanying us.
Wherever we go. And in this journey. When the mind accompanies us.
We need to recognize that. The mind is actually one of the most. Forceful persuaders.
If it tells us something. We need to turn left. We will just not be able to resist.
The desire. Resist the. The idea of turning left.
And yet. Turning left may not at all. Take us towards our destination.
It may take us somewhere entirely. Unwanted. So.
Sometimes the mind. Is caught with some infatuating. Self destructive desire.
Then we may well end up. Going. Getting into trouble.
Big trouble. By following the mind. Thus we may actually.
If we treat the mind. As trustworthy. As a friend.
As a benevolent friend. If we become our enemies. Because.
The mind. Is not always disposed. To be our friend.
Quite often with respect to our conditionings. It is disposed. To be our enemy.
The mind may not have. Necessarily. Negative motivations.
It might just be indifferent. Not indifferent in the sense that. Uncaring.
Indifferent in the sense that. Yeah indifferent. Not in the sense of being uninvolved.
But indifferent in the sense that. It may just be reckless. About the consequences.
Actions. Have serious consequences. And if we don’t realize.
The seriousness of consequences. We may end up doing things. Which will hurt us.
And hurt others. And we may. Think later.
Why in the wide world. Did I do that. But.
At that time. That realization won’t sink into us. Because.
We ourselves. Will not be able to. Resist.
The temptation. At that particular time. And temptation.
Indeed it is. Often. Temptation.
Equates with not just. That which gives us pleasure. But also with.
That which. Minimizes our trouble. So taking the path.
Of least resistance. Is also a temptation. And often.
Making decisions. Requires applying ourselves. Requires being responsible.
Requires. Thinking seriously. And all this.
Is met with resistance. By the mind. All this.
Is met by resistance. By the lethargy. That is internal to us.
In contrast. When. We.
Learn to. Take responsibility for our actions. We have to.
Carefully. Think. And that requires application.
So. If we. Recognize that.
Believing the mind’s guidance. Is actually a temptation. Which.
We need to usually resist. Or at the very least. Critically evaluate.
Then. We will be far less prone. To self-defeating actions.
The Bhagavad Gita warns. That. The uncontrolled mind.
Can be our enemy. And for most of us. It is.
Safe to assume. That at present. Our mind is indeed uncontrolled.
And is therefore. An enemy. So it is best for us.
To. Be cautious. To play safe.
And to ensure that. We don’t let. Ourselves.
Presume that the mind is our friend. This doesn’t. Necessarily mean.
That. The mind will always act. Yes.
We. Might get some good ideas also. Because.
In the mind. Are stored. Not just our.
Negative conditionings. Of course we usually. Use the word conditionings.
In a negative sense. But in the mind. Are also stored.
Our positive impressions. So there might be some things. Which we are just good at.
And we are good because. We. Have.
The innate gift for that. So for example. Making certain business decisions.
Might just come. Instinctively to. Certain business people.
Those who are of a. Vaishya orientation. Or intellectual analysis. May come really quickly.
For those of a. Brahmana orientation. By due observation. We will recognize.
What are the things. We are good at. And.
We. Over time may decide. That.
When we get ideas. Or instincts. In those areas.
Then we can trust them. Of course it’s always better. To think.
Calmly and clearly. But sometimes in situations. Where immediate action.
Is called for. Then in our areas. Of natural endowment.
We will be able to work. Effectively. Far better than others.
Even when. We just act based on our instincts. So yes in some areas.
Our mind can be our friend. And can guide us to quick actions. But which areas.
Those may be. We have to carefully observe. And that requires.
Pausing. And evaluating. The ideas that come within us.
And in areas. Apart from the areas of our specialization. Especially in areas that involve.
Immediate gratification. Of the senses. It’s best that.
We. Evaluate. The mind critically.
And learn to. Not let ourselves. Be.
Negatively affected. By uncritically. Treating the mind as a friend.
Lest we end up. Acting as. Our own worst enemies.
Of course as we practice. Bhakti steadily. The mind will become purified.
It too will. Start becoming. More and more of our friend.
But that. Transformation of the mind’s. Default state.
From being our enemy. To becoming our friend. Will take time.
And. During the interim period. Which may extend for.
Many years. Or even decades. We need to.
Exhibit new caution. In dealing with our mind.