Why Does My Mind Waver At The Thought Of Materialistic Possessions?

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Our mind

Mind is where thoughts arise. The way the five senses render the functions of touch, smell, taste, sight and sound in our body, similarly our mind renders the function of thinking.

Therefore, Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, an enlightened being says, “you should understand the science of the mind. It functions just as all the senses do. It is performing its own function (duty). Even if you don’t want to, the ears will not refrain from listening, will they? But if you do not want to take the phone call, then you don’t take it; that is your responsibility.”

The Nature of Mind

The very nature of mind is to constantly waver, just as the nature of water is to flow. One thought will arise, ‘I will do this’, and within a moment, we notice the mind has changed. It says, ‘I don’t want to do it anymore’.

We find it difficult when the mind wavers too much. From what you’ve described, your current state seems somewhat like this, isn’t it? The reason for this is the restless and contradictory nature of the mind. It is not the nature of the mind to sit on just one topic. Our mind, on a daily basis, produces thousands of endless thoughts. But not knowing how to deal with the contradictory thoughts, it creates such turbulence within, that we feel sick and tired of it, but can’t find ways and means to come out of its clutch.

However, the Mind is a like a Boat

In the ocean of life, the mind is a boat. One can only cross the ocean and reach ashore i.e. liberation, using this boat. Therefore, the mind is not to be fractured, it is to be dissolved.

While our wavering mind can make us wander aimlessly in worldly life desiring materialistic possessions and what not, it can also take you to Moksha if you meet a Gnani Purush!

Wouldn’t that be great?! And since you say that every other moment your mind feels that the materialistic possessions are futile, it’s a sign that you are about to meet the Gnani, very soon.

Gnani gives your boat (your mind) a compass (the right direction)

You yourself will know when your mind becomes steady and peaceful in Gnani’s presence, when it becomes sharp and focused to adopt Gnani’s teachings.

For that, first and foremost,

Attain Self Realization (Gnan)

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After you attain Self Realization, it will become easier to keep your mind separate. You realize that, “I am Pure Soul and my nature is only to see and know.”

Once one attains this Self-Realization, the mind and the Soul remain in their respective nature. The nature of mind is wavering and in the realm of thinking, whereas the pure Soul, the Self, by its nature is steady and ‘knows’ and ‘sees’ the mind. With this, your belief, ‘I am indeed the one who is having this thought’ also drops. Hence, you are able to deal with and even contain your mind with much more comfort and ease.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan explains, “Once the knowledge of, ‘I am pure Soul’ is born, the mind will be contained, otherwise the mind can never be contained. After Self-Realization, when the mind is wandering around, you have just to ‘See’ and ‘Know’ it. Then there is no interfering in it at all!”

The following solutions become easier after you take Gnan. However you can always apply them even now; they will give good results.

Converse with the Mind

Pujya Dadashri advises, “The intentions present in the mind cannot refrain from expressing. Just as the ears cannot stop from hearing, the mind cannot refrain from saying (expressing). When it expresses itself, you should pay heed to it only if it is useful for you.” Otherwise, we can simply respond to it in a kind tone, ‘Ok, I have noted what you are saying.’ Listening to our reply, the mind feels respected.

“Thoughts come on their own; you just have to see what kind of thoughts are coming, that’s all. There is nothing else. The mind does not have any insistence that it only wants to talk a certain way. If you act difficult, it will become difficult. You just have to say to the mind, ‘I have noted the contents.’ Yes, otherwise it will say, ‘You have no respect for me.’ If you respect it first, will the mind give you any trouble?”, suggests Pujya Dadashri.

Form a Reverse Opinion

If you still find your mind insisting or craving for materialistic possessions, which is against your principle or goal, know that it is a result of the opinion you have formed in the past.

The mind is created by opinions.

Eg. Say you developed a liking for materialistic possessions in the past. The mind then forms an opinion that, ‘One must have materialistic possessions, life becomes so very easy then.’ The intensity with which this opinion was formed, determines the intensity of your craving; it is directly proportional. But later, in this life, you listen to some saints or your Guru, saying, ‘Materialistic possessions give only temporary happiness, and for it you are made to repay by Nature in a big way!’ This talk greatly appeals to you.

Now, when opinions from the past and the current opinion differs, it causes conflict, which makes our mind waver even more!

But if it is your goal to get liberated from worldly bondages, and your past opinion is bothering you, you may strengthen the reverse opinion by repeating a number of times, ‘Materialistic possessions give only temporary happiness; to remain involved or engrossed in it is indeed futile!’ Gradually you shall see, the craving in the mind no longer exists.

Consequently, the mind will start following you, and thus will help you follow Gnani and accomplish your goal too. Wish you goodluck! 👍