Mastering Your Own Mind

Distracted? Angry? Envious? There's growing evidence that attention, emotion regulationa 'even lovea 'are skills that can be trained through the practice of meditation.

[Michael]

Thank you for this. I will share it with others.
@michaelgrow

[Hello]

This is old. I thought it was a new article with new studies.

[Fact]

Annihilation of the mind is must for linking with God.

"When the mind is conquered, its turbulent wanderings are stopped. Without conquering the mind, how can God be found? Rare is the one who knows the medicine to conquer the mind. The mind is conquered through the shabad; this is known to the lord’s humble servant."
(SGGS p665)

Some renounce the world to reach the state of 'annihilated' mind. They feel that by renouncing the society and family, and going to jungles or mountain-peaks will do the trick. It's not so. Some feel that they can probably reach this state by ablutions and pilgrimages. While others believe that they can reach this state of mental purity by simply wearing religious robes and hanging some symbols to their material body, or performing empty rituals, and so on. It will not happen, says the Gurbani!

"I was on fire of sensuous pleasures but now I have found the soothing water of the lord's name. This water of the lord's name has cooled my burning body. To kill their minds, some go off into the forests; but the water of the divine name is not found without the lord. That fire has consumed angels and mortal beings, but the water of the lord's name saves his humble servants from burning. In the terrifying world-ocean, there is an ocean of peace. I continue to drink it in, but this water of the lord's name is never exhausted. Says kabeer, meditate upon the lord. The water of the lord's name has quenched my thirst of sensuous pleasures."
(SGGS p323)

The Gurbani declares that, as the venom is killed with venom, mind is also killed through the mind itself. How's so? In order for a steel to cut another steel-beam, the beam needs to be heated in the fire. Similarly, when our impure mind (false ego) is heated in the fire of self-knowledge, it is subdued by its own purified state (higher mind), that is, its true nature.

"It is the innate nature of the mind to remain forever detached. The detached, dispassionate lord dwells within all."
(SGGS p1129)

"The lower mind turns inward, and merges with the higher mind, when it is with virtue."
(SGGS p935)