Gold may be invaluable, however, even
that is not to our liking unless it is  fashioned
to our taste. Even a diamond needs to be refined; otherwise it is nothing
more than a stone, not appealing, nor of any use. Metal is metal, but,
an engineer can transform metal into useful tools. Wood is wood, but,
a carpenter with the right tools can transform wood into furniture.
Great mystics like, Nanak, the Buddha and great Sufis’ whole
philosophy is based on refining the Mind.
The purpose of meditation is to refine your mind as did, and, indeed
do, the mystics. The following questions arise. Where should we commence
refinement from? Where do we attain the understanding from? One needs
to understand that the Mind is unrefined in order for to refine it.
The refined Mind does not give rise to wrong thoughts. The refined
intellect does not make a wrong decision. A refined Chit, or Power
of Remembrance, does not waste time in irrelevant remembrance. A refined
ego does not harm anyone or anything; it becomes an ocean of compassion.
An unrefined Mind surrenders in front of aggression. Whereas, a refined
Mind surrenders only to correct action, speech and thought directed
people and will always stand up against injustice. The refined ego
compels you to take a stance against injustice. Had the mystics surrendered
in the face of injustice, there would be no recollections of any religion
or dharma. Jesus, Buddha, the ten Sikh Gurus, Kabir and Socrates all
took a stance against falsehood and were persecuted for speaking the
Truth.
Before refining the Mind, one has to study the Mind. There is no
greater education than studying your own Mind. There is no greater
understanding than the understanding of the Mind. The greatest battle
is that of conquering your Mind, leading to the greatest bliss and
peacefulness.
The great Sufi mystic, Kabir, likens the Mind to a barking dog, with
a habit of chasing bones. The dog chews the bone, without realising
that the blood it can taste is its own, not from the bone. Likewise,
we don’t realise that our Minds waste much of our time in futile
activity, not realising that it is we who lose out in the process.
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