This is good determination

Sankhya Yoga

Chapter 2, Verse 41

 

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir 

ekeha kuru-nandana 

bahu-śākhā hyanantāśca 

buddhayo’vyavasāyinām

 

In this practice, O Arjuna, the resolute mind is one-pointed; the thoughts of  

the irresolute are many-branched and endless.

 

Bhagavan Krishna says, “Because you are not attached to your actions, and you are not attached to the results of your actions, the mind becomes one-pointed. The intellect which determines only one thing, remains unshakeably fixed on it.” The mind becomes one-pointed on God and on God alone. Remaining steadfast in God, nothing can shake that person. Vyavasāyātmikā buddhir. The resolute mind is single-pointed. When the mind is settled for meditation, when the mind is calm and is focused on one goal, nothing can move its single-pointed devotion. The same is true when one surrenders to one spiritual path and looks only to that path; when one has found his way, his path in life, there’s no need to look elsewhere. Then one becomes strong. But if following one path, one still puts his nose in many places, he won’t move anywhere. Lord Krishna says that “the resolute mind is one-pointed.” The one who has found his way, the one who has surrendered to his spiritual path, will find Satchitananda within, will find the Divine in one’s path itself, because the mind has fully given itself to this path.

Vyavasāyinām refers to those who do not possess this resoluteness, whose minds are deluded by feelings of diversity, and ignorance, and are deeply attached to enjoyment of the world. These people will never find peace, because they are always moving, shopping from left to right, jumping from one boat to the other, from one enjoyment to the other. They engage themselves in so many things that they can’t focus themselves anymore. Someone who does hundreds of mantras in their sadhana, doesn’t get the benefit of the mantras, because each mantra vibrates differently. Whereas when you take one mantra, and focus on one mantra, it becomes more powerful. Then you have the full benefit of that mantra, which is much more than 100 mantras. Then the Guru Mantra or the Paramparam Mantra can help you. 

 

Krishna says that “the irresolute are many-branched.” They don’t know this. They have so many things to do: today I’m here, tomorrow I’m there; I’m in this way, I’m in that way; I take this teaching from here, I take that teaching from there. Then there is a big mishmash of everything, a biryani of everything, and they don’t know anything. But the wise one is single-pointed. Even if there is a big mishmash of everything, the wise one will be able to take it and separate everything. This is yoga! Yoga doesn’t mean to sit down and do some exercises. To the western mind, yoga means physical stretching exercises, doesn’t it? No! That is why Atma Kriya Yoga is not based on what you do on the outside, but what you do on the inside.

 

Atma Kriya Yoga is to rediscover the Atma, focus on the Atma, focus on the Self, focus on the Divine within the Self. If you are focused on this Consciousness like this, then it’s much better. It will bear its fruits. It’s much stronger than having hundreds of paths which will not lead you anywhere. I always give this example – there are two boats next to each other. One boat says, “I am going to England.” The other boat says, “I am going to France.” You are standing on both boats and the boats start going. Sometimes you can continue on both boats together. But when the boats start going their separate ways, what will happen? Either you choose one boat or you fall down! This is what Krishna is saying to Arjuna, “O Arjuna, when your mind becomes single-pointed towards God Consciousness, it’s not jumping on this and on that. When the mind is focused, you have control of the mind. You will not be able to destroy the mind, but you can control it. You can focus it! And that is yoga. Learn to focus the mind.”

The mind of Arjuna is not aiming to get something, like an object; it is not aiming to get other people’s recognition. Krishna is very happy to see this in Arjuna, “Now you are ready for even greater things.” If somebody has this kind of determination, spirituality becomes very easy. If you have expectations on the spiritual path or on any path, it always brings sorrow. Because you expect, “Ah, I will get this,” “I will do that”, “I will do this”, “I will do this meditation and it will bear this fruit.” But when you don’t get what you expect, what happens? You become miserable. Then you don’t have any more faith. Single-pointed devotion is also taught in the Bible. It’s so beautiful. Christ says, “If you have faith like a mustard seed, you can do wonders.” Isn’t it true? Christ doesn’t ask much! He just asks you to have faith. Have this determination. Have this focus! He doesn’t ask you for a lot, just be single-pointed! Don’t jump left and right. 

 

Often people put many other things first in life. Sometimes they put love. Then other times it becomes hate. Sometimes they agree; sometimes they don’t agree. They are always moving from one thing to another. These people have ‘cañcala’ – restlessness. (v. 25) Cañcala is a Hindi word describing somebody who is not stable, who is always flickering. You should not trust these people. Sri Krishna sees this single-minded devotion in Arjuna and He is very happy. He says, “This is good determination! Let’s strengthen this determination.”

Bhagavad Gita