22/01/2017
CONTEMPLATION
Contemplation is an exercise for comprehension of scriptural knowledge, as self-knowledge. Through the use of scriptural knowledge we must integrate our mind and control it. When we firmly hold the reins of scriptural knowledge in our hand, the horse of the mind can cause no hurt. We should not become a slave to our mind, but make the mind our slave. We should not become obedient servant of the mind; rather we should turn our mind into an obedient servant. He, who does whatever comes to his mind, is a slave to his mind. The wise man is he who ponders over what comes to his mind with a view to finding out whether he should act upon it or not. Only when after mature deliberation, he concludes that a particular thought is right and proper, does a wise man implement it. This would mean that the reins of the horse are in hands and we are driving it, the horse is not running on its own. When the reins go out of a wise man’s hand, confusion overtakes him.
It is therefore very necessary that we hold in our hands powerful reins to make the horse of our mind to keep to the right path. Those reins are: Contemplation (anupreksha) of scriptural knowledge, self-introspection and self-realization.
Acharya Mahapragya