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In The Absence Of Desire, The Mind Of A Meditator Remains Stable

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता |
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मन: || 6.19||

yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā
yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ|| 19||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 6- Ver. 19:

This state is comparable to the yogi who has regulated his mind and engages himself in yoga, much as a lamp in a windless place does not flicker.

Explanation

The flame flickers naturally in the breeze and is impossible to regulate. The flame, on the other hand, becomes as steady as a picture in a windless environment. Similarly, the mind is unpredictable and difficult to regulate by nature. When a yogi’s mind is in oneness with God, however, it gets protected from the winds of desire. The power of devotion keeps such a yogi’s mind under constant control.

If the focused mind is compared to a steady flame, we must learn how to keep it from succumbing to the winds of desire. If wishes exist, we may be able to momentarily stabilise the mind, but a thought formed by a desire will eventually destabilise it. Desire is indicative of a lack of detachment, or vairagya. The only way to improve our level of detachment from the world is to increase our level of detachment from it.

When we meditate on the self, our focus is on the self. We’re concentrating on the self, which shines brightly. It’s the equivalent of flashing a torch on the sun – the torch is rendered useless. The self is similar to a candle in that it does not need anything else to illuminate it, to shine a light on it. Another point stated in the flame illustration is this. As a result, the completion of meditation occurs when our focus and concentration reaches its pinnacle, and the target of meditation becomes our own aatmaa or self. It is the samaadhi state.

Verse & what we can learn

Intense level of detachment is needed for meditation. The mind is represented by the flame. It is of no use to anyone when the flame flickers. Others consider an unsettled mind to be a nuisance. You can’t access your knowledge if your thinking is messed up. The flame is disturbed even by the smallest breeze. The mind is disturbed by passing thoughts. To safeguard the mind, you need the shade of spiritual discipline.

The oil is ejected by a continuous flame pointing upward. The fuel of vasanas, or unmanifest desires, is burned by a calm mind as it thinks about the divine. A burning flame is quickly extinguished. An disturbed mind is incapable of thinking or acting. As long as there is oil in the lamp, the flame will burn. The mind remains until vasanas arise. When the oil is used up, the wick is destroyed. The ego vanishes when the vasanas are exhausted.
When the mind is weak, it is open to the world’s allures. The mind can be gathered or scattered in one of two ways. A disorganised mind is powerless. It’s ineffective and wasteful. The power of a concentrated mind is immense. As a result, mental control is very necessary for success.
To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There are also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.
In the Next verses, Shri Krishna tells Arjuna more in depth about mind and meditation.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…