Is controlling our thoughts a skill that can be developed?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
so when I said that the first thing you can control is the our thoughts so is it a skill that can be developed the capacity to control our thoughts it’s not just a skill it’s more state of consciousness the Bhagavad Gita talks about three modes of material nature sattva guna, rajo guna and tamo guna so the mode of goodness the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance in the mode of ignorance there is neither action nor contemplation there is no control externally there is no control internally I am not doing anything properly nor am I thinking properly there is just illusion in the mode of passion there is action before contemplation I do this sometimes I speak why did I speak that so there is a rush to control external things without controlling the internals in the mode of goodness there is contemplation before action so we think first and then we act so by the practice of bhakti yoga we rise from the lower modes upwards from the mode of ignorance through the mode of passion towards the mode of goodness and as we come to the mode of goodness the control that we have over our thoughts naturally increases so the process of bhakti is the best means because it connects us it not only takes us to the mode of goodness but it connects us with the transcendental supreme reality who exists above goodness and that connection propels us upwards so as we start practicing bhakti more and more our control over our thoughts becomes more and more even in the mode of ignorance we may not be able to think clearly but we can still begin by thinking of Krishna in whatever way we can I may be in a deep mode of ignorance but still I can just hear a kirtan I can just recite some shloka I can just I can just chant if I can’t do anything I can just chant Krishna’s name that is the beginning by that connection our consciousness will rise and by the raising of consciousness from the mode of ignorance upwards to the mode of goodness we will get more control so when we face a problem we become panicky and in the panicky state if I think how to solve the problem whatever I think of it will all be fearful scenarios so at that time focus on Krishna get the thoughts under control by connecting with Krishna and then afterwards we can work towards dealing with the externals so it’s not more a state of consciousness rather than a skill but as a skill we can find out what is the most effective way by which we can connect with Krishna so for somebody it may just be music for somebody it may be just quotable quotes some striking sentences for somebody it may be just a picture of Krishna still version of Krishna yeah Krishna is still in control Krishna will take care let me surrender to Krishna so we have to find out those we have to become skilled at connecting with those spiritual stimuli which most efficaciously calm our mind and by that we will be able to deal with things more effectively so generically by the gradual purification coming from bhakti and specifically by connecting with those manifestations of Krishna which help us to become absorbent by that we can gain better control over our thoughts is it answer your question? any other questions?